<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8" ?>
<tours><tour>
  <sourceId>AC2010</sourceId>
  <title>Prince Edward Island and Nova Scotia</title>
  <summary>
    <![CDATA[Private evenings at Pier 21 and the Citadel in Halifax, a whale-watching excursion on the Bay of Fundy, a guided visit to the UNESCO World Heritage site of Lunenburg, and the Anne of Green Gables legacy highlight this Prince Edward Island and Nova Scotia travel adventure.
]]>
  </summary>
  <description>
    <![CDATA[Scenic landscapes, savory lobster, whale-watching and private Tauck evenings highlight this P.E.I. and Nova Scotia travel adventure. Whale-watch at Digby Neck on the Bay of Fundy. Attend a Tauck Exclusive private dinner and tour at the Halifax Citadel, and a private reception and dinner at Pier 21 National Historic Site. Choose a walking tour of historic Lunenburg or a visit to a fisheries museum. Watch history come alive at the Habitation at Port-Royal, and enjoy the Anne of Green Gables musical (schedule permitting) and a tour of the P.E.I.  house where the popular novel was set.
]]>
  </description>
  <link>http://www.tauck.com/tours/canada-tours/eastern-canada-tours/nova-scotia-travel-ac-2010</link>
  <durationDays>8</durationDays>
  <durationDetails>8 days and 7 nights.</durationDetails>
  <tripType>ESCORTED_TOUR</tripType>
  <brand>TWD</brand>
  <subbrand>USA and Canada</subbrand>
  <gradeRating>ALL_AGES</gradeRating>
  <comfortRating>COMFORTABLE_MIXED</comfortRating>
  <startingLocation>Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada</startingLocation>
  <prices>
    <price currency="USD">2670</price>
    <priceDetails><![CDATA[All prices are per person in U.S. dollars. ]]></priceDetails>
  </prices>
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  <itinerary>
    <![CDATA[1. Arrive Halifax
Tour begins: 6:00 PM, Delta Barrington. Welcome to Nova Scotia! A transfer from the Halifax Airport to the Delta Barrington is included upon arrival. Your journey begins with a welcome reception and dinner at Pier 21, chronicling the story of immigration to Canada in the 20th century through exhibits and a poignant multi-media production, Oceans of Hope. Meals D

2. Lunenburg / Peggy’s Cove
Pass through seaside hamlets and harbor towns en route to Lunenburg, named a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its well-preserved, colorful 19th-century timber-built houses. A choice of sightseeing today includes a walking tour of Lunenburg or a visit to the Fisheries Museum of the Atlantic, showcasing the Maritimes’ rich seafaring heritage. Visit Mahone Bay and Peggy’s Cove before enjoying an evening at leisure in Halifax. Meals B

3. Historic Halifax / Citadel Evening
You’ve got an entire day in Halifax to explore as you please. Join us this evening for a Tauck Exclusive – a private tour and dinner at the Citadel National Historic Site, harboring 300 years of history – and fantastic views! Meals BD

4. Prince Edward Island
Take a ferry from Nova Scotia to beautiful Prince Edward Island. Following lunch, visit Founders’ Hall, where you’ll find state-of-the-art displays chronicling Canada’s origins and the history of the Fathers of the Confederation. Arrive in Old Charlottetown for a two-night stay; your hotel is just steps from the winding boardwalk. Meals BL

5. A National Park &amp; Anne of Green Gables
Spend the morning hours on your own in Charlottetown, then depart for a visit to Prince Edward Island National Park. Discover salt marshes rich in wildlife, freshwater ponds, dramatic bluffs, and endless coastline; see the fragility of the sweeping dunes on Greenwich Peninsula. View quaint fishing villages as you travel along the island’s magnificent beaches, and tour Green Gables House, the farmhouse immortalized in Lucy Maud Montgomery’s beloved book. End the day with a traditional lobster dinner, and schedule permitting, attend a performance of the musical Anne of Green Gables. Meals BD

6. Digby / Annapolis Royal
Cross the Confederation Bridge today to New Brunswick and on to Nova Scotia. Visit Port-Royal National Historic Site and the Habitation, one of the earliest settlements in North America, where a reconstruction of early 17th-century buildings comes to life through costumed interpreters and period demonstrations. Continue on to your golf resort in Digby, overlooking the Annapolis Basin and the Bay of Fundy. Meals BLD

7. Whale Watching / Time at Leisure
Journey to wildlife-rich Digby Neck for a whale watching excursion, weather permitting. Spend the afternoon at leisure, before joining us for a farewell dinner. Meals BLD

8. Journey Home
Stop at Grand-Pré National Historic Site en route to Halifax for your return home. Tour ends: 11:45 AM at Halifax International Airport. Tauck can arrange additional nights at the Delta Barrington for guests wishing to extend their stay in Halifax. A transfer to the Halifax International Airport from the Delta Barrington is included for these bookings. Allow a minimum of two hours for flight check-in. Meals B
]]>
  </itinerary>
  <itineraryDetails>
    <itineraryDay day="1">
  <title>Arrive Halifax</title>
  <description>Tour begins: 6:00 PM, Delta Barrington.  Welcome to Nova Scotia! A transfer from the Halifax Airport to the Delta Barrington is included upon arrival.  Your journey begins with a welcome reception and dinner at Pier 21, chronicling the story of immigration to Canada in the 20th century through exhibits and a poignant multi&amp;#45;media production, Oceans of Hope.  Meals D</description>
  <overnight>Delta Barrington, Halifax, Nova Scotia</overnight>
  <meals>Dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="2">
  <title>Lunenburg / Peggy&apos;s Cove</title>
  <description>Pass through seaside hamlets and harbor towns en route to Lunenburg, named a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its well&amp;#45;preserved, colorful 19th&amp;#45;century timber&amp;#45;built houses.  A choice of sightseeing today includes a walking tour of Lunenburg or a visit to the Fisheries Museum of the Atlantic, showcasing the Maritimes&apos; rich seafaring heritage.  Visit Mahone Bay and Peggy&apos;s Cove before enjoying an evening at leisure in Halifax.  Meals B</description>
  <overnight>Delta Barrington, Halifax, Nova Scotia</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="3">
  <title>Historic Halifax / Citadel Evening</title>
  <description>You&apos;ve got an entire day in Halifax to explore as you please.  Join us this evening for a Tauck Exclusive &amp;#45; a private tour and dinner at the Citadel National Historic Site, harboring 300 years of history &amp;#45; and fantastic views! Meals BD</description>
  <overnight>Delta Barrington, Halifax, Nova Scotia</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="4">
  <title>Prince Edward Island</title>
  <description>Take a ferry from Nova Scotia to beautiful Prince Edward Island.  Following lunch, visit Founders&apos; Hall, where you&apos;ll find state&amp;#45;of&amp;#45;the&amp;#45;art displays chronicling Canada&apos;s origins and the history of the Fathers of the Confederation.  Arrive in Old Charlottetown for a two&amp;#45;night stay; your hotel is just steps from the winding boardwalk.  Meals BL</description>
  <overnight>Delta Prince Edward, Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="5">
  <title>A National Park &amp; Anne of Green Gables</title>
  <description>Spend the morning hours on your own in Charlottetown, then depart for a visit to Prince Edward Island National Park.  Discover salt marshes rich in wildlife, freshwater ponds, dramatic bluffs, and endless coastline; see the fragility of the sweeping dunes on Greenwich Peninsula.  View quaint fishing villages as you travel along the island&apos;s magnificent beaches, and tour Green Gables House, the farmhouse immortalized in Lucy Maud Montgomery&apos;s beloved book.  End the day with a traditional lobster dinner, and schedule permitting, attend a performance of the musical Anne of Green Gables.  Meals BD</description>
  <overnight>Delta Prince Edward, Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="6">
  <title>Digby / Annapolis Royal</title>
  <description>Cross the Confederation Bridge today to New Brunswick and on to Nova Scotia.  Visit Port&amp;#45;Royal National Historic Site and the Habitation, one of the earliest settlements in North America, where a reconstruction of early 17th&amp;#45;century buildings comes to life through costumed interpreters and period demonstrations.  Continue on to your golf resort in Digby, overlooking the Annapolis Basin and the Bay of Fundy.  Meals BLD</description>
  <overnight>Digby Pines Golf Resort &amp; Spa, Digby, Nova Scotia</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="7">
  <title>Whale Watching / Time at Leisure</title>
  <description>Journey to wildlife&amp;#45;rich Digby Neck for a whale watching excursion, weather permitting.  Spend the afternoon at leisure, before joining us for a farewell dinner.  Meals BLD</description>
  <overnight>Digby Pines Golf Resort &amp; Spa, Digby, Nova Scotia</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="8">
  <title>Journey Home</title>
  <description>Stop at Grand-Pré National Historic Site en route to Halifax for your return home. Tour ends: 11:45 AM at Halifax International Airport. Tauck can arrange additional nights at the Delta Barrington for guests wishing to extend their stay in Halifax. A transfer to the Halifax International Airport from the Delta Barrington is included for these bookings. Allow a minimum of two hours for flight check-in.</description>
  <overnight></overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast</meals>
</itineraryDay>
  </itineraryDetails>
  <highlights>
		
				Peggy’s Cove ~ Greenwich Peninsula ~ Charlottetown ~ Halifax ~ Lunenburg ~ Bay of Fundy ~ Annapolis Valley 
</highlights>
  <tauckValues>
    <value order="1">Private Tauck reception and dinner at Pier 21, a National Historic Site chronicling the history of Canadian immigration in the 20th century</value><value order="2">Tauck Exclusive private dinner and tour at the Citadel National Historic Site, looming high above Halifax</value><value order="3">Choice of guided visits in the historic shipbuilding town of Lunenburg, a UNESCO World Heritage Site – a walking tour or a visit to the Fisheries Museum of the Atlantic</value><value order="4">Airport transfers upon arrival and departure as noted</value><value order="5">15 meals, service charges, gratuities to local guides, admission fees, taxes and porterage</value>
  </tauckValues>  
  <departureDates>
    <date>
    <day>26</day>
    <month>6</month>
    <year>2010</year>
    <singlesPrice>2997</singlesPrice>
    <doublesPrice>2670</doublesPrice>
    <triplesPrice>2513</triplesPrice>
    <quadsPrice>0</quadsPrice>
    
  </date>
  <date>
    <day>7</day>
    <month>8</month>
    <year>2010</year>
    <singlesPrice>3218</singlesPrice>
    <doublesPrice>2670</doublesPrice>
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  </date>
  <date>
    <day>21</day>
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  <date>
    <day>9</day>
    <month>9</month>
    <year>2010</year>
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    <doublesPrice>2670</doublesPrice>
    <triplesPrice>2513</triplesPrice>
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  <date>
    <day>16</day>
    <month>9</month>
    <year>2010</year>
    <singlesPrice>3218</singlesPrice>
    <doublesPrice>2670</doublesPrice>
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  <date>
    <day>25</day>
    <month>9</month>
    <year>2010</year>
    <singlesPrice>3218</singlesPrice>
    <doublesPrice>2670</doublesPrice>
    <triplesPrice>2513</triplesPrice>
    <quadsPrice>0</quadsPrice>
    
  </date>
  <date>
    <day>2</day>
    <month>10</month>
    <year>2010</year>
    <singlesPrice>2997</singlesPrice>
    <doublesPrice>2670</doublesPrice>
    <triplesPrice>2513</triplesPrice>
    <quadsPrice>0</quadsPrice>
    
  </date>

</departureDates>

</tour><tour>
  <sourceId>AL2010</sourceId>
  <title>Grand Alaska aboard Princess</title>
  <summary>
    <![CDATA[Combine a weeklong Princess cruise through glacier-strewn waterways with a visit to Denali National Park, rail trips, a floatplane tour, rafting in a bald eagle reserve, a sled dog experience and much more on this unforgettable Alaska travel adventure.
]]>
  </summary>
  <description>
    <![CDATA[Experience a land of bald eagles, totem poles, calving glaciers, and majestic wildlife by land, sea, and air on Tauck&apos;s Alaska travel adventure. Cruise Prince William Sound, Glacier Bay, and the Inside Passage aboard a Princess ship. Tour Anchorage, Juneau, Skagway, and Ketchikan... explore Denali and Wrangell-St. Elias national parks... take a flightseeing tour over glaciers, two scenic rail journeys, a jet boat cruise, a tramway ride to a high peak, and a raft trip in a bald eagle preserve. Meet an Iditarod champion musher and his Husky sled dogs; visit a homesteader at her wilderness farm; enjoy a private Tlingit cultural presentation, a Music of Denali dinner show and more.]]>
  </description>
  <link>http://cruise-travel.tauck.com/tours/usa-tours/alaska-vacations/alaska-tour-al-2010</link>
  <durationDays>15</durationDays>
  <durationDetails>15 days and 14 nights.</durationDetails>
  <tripType>ESCORTED_CRUISE</tripType>
  <brand>TauckAtSea</brand>
  <subbrand>USA and Canada</subbrand>
  <gradeRating>ALL_AGES</gradeRating>
  <comfortRating>COMFORTABLE_MIXED</comfortRating>
  <startingLocation>Anchorage, Alaska</startingLocation>
  <prices>
    <price currency="USD">5790</price>
    <priceDetails><![CDATA[All prices are per person in U.S. dollars. ]]></priceDetails>
  </prices>
  <images>
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    <image>http://tools.tauck.com/Files/ItineraryImages/altImages/AL2010_alt2.jpg</image>
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  <itinerary>
    <![CDATA[• = cruise day


1. Arrive Anchorage
Tour begins: 6:30 PM, The Hotel Captain Cook. A transfer from Anchorage Int’l Airport to The Hotel Captain Cook is included. Join us for a welcome reception and dinner. Meals D

2. Anchorage / Flightseeing / Trapper Creek 
After exploring Alaska’s indigenous cultures at the Alaska Native Heritage Center in Anchorage, a private flight to Talkeetna precedes a drive to Mt. McKinley Princess Wilderness Lodge in Trapper Creek for a two-night stay. Meals BLD

3. Homestead Visit / Jet Boat Cruise 
Visit the homestead of Joanne Porterfield, whose gardens and farm have flourished in the wilderness for over 45 years; take a jet boat cruise this afternoon. Meals BLD

4. To Denali by Rail / Sled Dog Experience
Following a rail journey to Denali National Park, meet Alaskan sled dogs at Husky Homestead, run by Iditarod champion musher Jeff King and his family. Dine at a choice of restaurants at Denali Princess Lodge tonight. Meals BLD

5. Explore Denali National Park
Rise early to look for moose, grizzly bears and other wildlife on a Tundra Wildlife Search in Denali National Park with a National Park Service guide, followed by some leisure time. Attend a Music of Denali dinner show tonight. Meals BLD

6. Across the Alaskan Wilderness
Depart Denali and make your way through the mountain landscapes of the Alaska Range to your lodge on the Copper River next to Wrangell-St. Elias National Park. Meals BLD

7. “North America’s Mountain Kingdom”
Wrangell-St. Elias National Park is home to more glaciers and 16,000-foot-plus peaks than anyplace on the continent; take a private tour of its visitor center with a park ranger, and return to your lodge for time spent as you please. Meals BD

• 8. Catamaran Journey / Embark Cruise
Stop at Worthington Glacier en route to Valdez; cross Prince William Sound by catamaran to Whittier, where you’ll board your Princess ship for your 7-night Alaska cruise. Meals BLD

• 9. Day at Sea – Prince William Sound 
Spend a full day cruising College Fjord, home to 16 glaciers named for Ivy League schools, and Prince William Sound, one of Alaska’s best places to spot wildlife from sea lions to sea otters. Attend the Captain’s welcome reception. Meals BLD

• 10. Glacier Bay Cruising – Day at Sea
Awaken to the sights of Glacier Bay National Park, from migrating humpback whales to a vast array of bird and animal life. Take advantage of your Princess ship’s amenities, and enjoy Tauck’s exclusive cocktail party with open bar and hors-d’oeuvres tonight, as you sail to Skagway. Meals BLD

• 11. Skagway / Rafting / Rail Excursion
Tour historic Skagway in antique cars, then ferry along the Lynn Canal to Haines. A rafting adventure through the Chilkat Bald Eagle Preserve provides a chance to view eagles in their natural habitat. Then hop aboard the narrow-gauge White Pass &amp; Yukon Route for a nostalgic rail excursion before returning to Skagway and the ship. Meals BLD

• 12. Discover Juneau &amp; Tlingit Culture 
Your Princess ship arrives this morning in Juneau, nestled on the sides of Mount Juneau and Mount Roberts along Gastineau Channel. A private cultural presentation shares insights about the indigenous Tlingit peoples, prior to a ride on a tramcar adorned with Tlingit art to the top of Mount Roberts; enjoy panoramic views of the city. Meals BLD

• 13. Ketchikan / Tlingit Village
Dock in Ketchikan, home to one of the world’s largest totem-pole collections, for a close-up look at the pivotal role that Tlingit heritage plays in the area’s culture at Saxman Native Village; see local totem carvers at work, and watch traditional dances. Meals BLD

• 14. Inside Passage Cruising – Day at Sea
Wind your way through the Inside Passage on a full day of cruising past small, densely forested islands and along the mainland, where little coastal communities dot the shoreline; a farewell cocktail party precedes dinner tonight. Meals BLD

15. Disembark Vancouver / Fly Home
Tour ends: Vancouver. Disembark the ship in Vancouver; fly home any time. A transfer is included from the dock to Vancouver International Airport. Allow a minimum of two hours for flight check-in. Meals B
]]>
  </itinerary>
  <itineraryDetails>
    <itineraryDay day="1">
  <title>Arrive Anchorage</title>
  <description>Tour begins: 6:30 PM, The Hotel Captain Cook.  A transfer from Anchorage Int&apos;l Airport to The Hotel Captain Cook is included.  Join us for a welcome reception and dinner.  Meals D</description>
  <overnight>The Hotel Captain Cook, Anchorage</overnight>
  <meals>Dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="2">
  <title>Anchorage / Flightseeing / Trapper Creek </title>
  <description>After exploring Alaska&apos;s indigenous cultures at the Alaska Native Heritage Center in Anchorage, a private flight to Talkeetna precedes a drive to Mt.  McKinley Princess Wilderness Lodge in Trapper Creek for a two&amp;#45;night stay.  Meals BLD</description>
  <overnight>Mt. McKinley Princess Wilderness Lodge, Trapper Creek</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="3">
  <title>Homestead Visit / Jet Boat Cruise </title>
  <description>Visit the homestead of Joanne Porterfield, whose gardens and farm have flourished in the wilderness for over 45 years; take a jet boat cruise this afternoon.  Meals BLD</description>
  <overnight>Mt. McKinley Princess Wilderness Lodge, Trapper Creek</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="4">
  <title>To Denali by Rail / Sled Dog Experience</title>
  <description>Following a rail journey to Denali National Park, meet Alaskan sled dogs at Husky Homestead, run by Iditarod champion musher Jeff King and his family.  Dine at a choice of restaurants at Denali Princess Lodge tonight.  Meals BLD</description>
  <overnight>Denali Princess Wilderness Lodge, Denali</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="5">
  <title>Explore Denali National Park</title>
  <description>Rise early to look for moose, grizzly bears and other wildlife on a Tundra Wildlife Search in Denali National Park with a National Park Service guide, followed by some leisure time.  Attend a Music of Denali dinner show tonight.  Meals BLD</description>
  <overnight>Denali Princess Wilderness Lodge, Denali</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="6">
  <title>Across the Alaskan Wilderness</title>
  <description>Depart Denali and make your way through the mountain landscapes of the Alaska Range to your lodge on the Copper River next to Wrangell&amp;#45;St.  Elias National Park.  Meals BLD</description>
  <overnight>Copper River Princess Wilderness Lodge, Copper Center</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="7">
  <title>“North America&apos;s Mountain Kingdom”</title>
  <description>Wrangell&amp;#45;St.  Elias National Park is home to more glaciers and 16,000&amp;#45;foot&amp;#45;plus peaks than anyplace on the continent; take a private tour of its visitor center with a park ranger, and return to your lodge for time spent as you please.  Meals BD</description>
  <overnight>Copper River Princess Wilderness Lodge, Copper Center</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="8">
  <title>Catamaran Journey / Embark Cruise</title>
  <description>Stop at Worthington Glacier en route to Valdez; cross Prince William Sound by catamaran to Whittier, where you&apos;ll board your Princess ship for your 7&amp;#45;night Alaska cruise.  Meals BLD</description>
  <overnight>Cruising aboard Princess</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="9">
  <title>Day at Sea &amp;#45; Prince William Sound </title>
  <description>Spend a full day cruising College Fjord, home to 16 glaciers named for Ivy League schools, and Prince William Sound, one of Alaska&apos;s best places to spot wildlife from sea lions to sea otters.  Attend the Captain&apos;s welcome reception.  Meals BLD</description>
  <overnight>Cruising aboard Princess</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="10">
  <title>Glacier Bay Cruising &amp;#45; Day at Sea</title>
  <description>Awaken to the sights of Glacier Bay National Park, from migrating humpback whales to a vast array of bird and animal life.  Take advantage of your Princess ship&apos;s amenities, and enjoy Tauck&apos;s exclusive cocktail party with open bar and hors&amp;#45;d&apos;oeuvres tonight, as you sail to Skagway.  Meals BLD</description>
  <overnight>Cruising aboard Princess</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="11">
  <title>Skagway / Rafting / Rail Excursion</title>
  <description>Tour historic Skagway in antique cars, then ferry along the Lynn Canal to Haines.  A rafting adventure through the Chilkat Bald Eagle Preserve provides a chance to view eagles in their natural habitat.  Then hop aboard the narrow&amp;#45;gauge White Pass &amp; Yukon Route for a nostalgic rail excursion before returning to Skagway and the ship.  Meals BLD</description>
  <overnight>Cruising aboard Princess</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="12">
  <title>Discover Juneau &amp; Tlingit Culture </title>
  <description>Your Princess ship arrives this morning in Juneau, nestled on the sides of Mount Juneau and Mount Roberts along Gastineau Channel.  A private cultural presentation shares insights about the indigenous Tlingit peoples, prior to a ride on a tramcar adorned with Tlingit art to the top of Mount Roberts; enjoy panoramic views of the city.  Meals BLD</description>
  <overnight>Cruising aboard Princess</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="13">
  <title>Ketchikan / Tlingit Village</title>
  <description>Dock in Ketchikan, home to one of the world&apos;s largest totem&amp;#45;pole collections, for a close&amp;#45;up look at the pivotal role that Tlingit heritage plays in the area&apos;s culture at Saxman Native Village; see local totem carvers at work, and watch traditional dances.  Meals BLD</description>
  <overnight>Cruising aboard Princess </overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="14">
  <title>Inside Passage Cruising &amp;#45; Day at Sea</title>
  <description>Wind your way through the Inside Passage on a full day of cruising past small, densely forested islands and along the mainland, where little coastal communities dot the shoreline; a farewell cocktail party precedes dinner tonight.  Meals BLD</description>
  <overnight>Cruising aboard Princess</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="15">
  <title>Disembark Vancouver / Fly Home</title>
  <description>Tour ends: Vancouver. Disembark the ship in Vancouver; fly home any time. A transfer is included from the dock to Vancouver International Airport. Allow a minimum of two hours for flight check-in.</description>
  <overnight></overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast</meals>
</itineraryDay>
  </itineraryDetails>
  <highlights>
		
7-Night Princess Cruise ~ Anchorage ~ Kenai Fjords ~ Denali National Park
</highlights>
  <tauckValues>
    <value order="1">Traveling with Taucks private group and the same Tauck Director both on land and at sea aboard the ship</value><value order="2">Private Tauck Shore Excursions $595 Value!</value><value order="3">7 nights on land in Anchorage, Denali and Wrangell-St. Elias national parks, and at wilderness resorts prior to a 7-night cruise aboard Diamond Princess or Coral Princess</value><value order="4">All-inclusive sightseeing: Visit to the Alaska Native Heritage Center; private scenic flight to Talkeetna; jet boat cruise; visit to a wilderness homestead in the shadow of Mt. McKinley; sled dog experience at Jeff King&apos;s Husky Homestead; Tundra Wildlife Search and music performance at Denali; private tour in Wrangell-St. Elias National Park; a Chilkat rafting adventure and much more</value><value order="5">Two scenic rail journeys  White Pass &amp; Yukon Route and Alaska Railroad</value><value order="6">Credit for wine with dinner aboard your Princess ship</value><value order="7">Airport transfers upon arrival and departure as noted</value><value order="8">40 meals, service charges, gratuities to local guides, taxes, applicable fuel surcharges, admission fees and porterage</value>
  </tauckValues>  
  <departureDates>
    <date>
    <day>26</day>
    <month>6</month>
    <year>2010</year>
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    <quadsPrice>0</quadsPrice>
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  <occupancy>1</occupancy>
  <description>Oceanview-Window (EE)</description>
  <suppliment>832</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>8184</totalPrice>
</cabin>
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  <categoryCode>AL 20102</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>2</occupancy>
  <description>Oceanview-Window (EE)</description>
  <suppliment>600</suppliment>
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</cabin>
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  <occupancy>1</occupancy>
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  <suppliment>1552</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>8904</totalPrice>
</cabin>
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  <totalPrice>8904</totalPrice>
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  <description>Mini-Ste w/Balc.(AB)</description>
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  <totalPrice>7315</totalPrice>
</cabin>
<cabin>
  <categoryCode>AL 20104</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>3</occupancy>
  <description>Mini-Ste w/Balc.(AB)</description>
  <suppliment>1010</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>6766</totalPrice>
</cabin>
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  <categoryCode>AL 20105</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>1</occupancy>
  <description>Suite with Balcony (VS)</description>
  <suppliment>4324</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>11676</totalPrice>
</cabin>
<cabin>
  <categoryCode>AL 20105</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>2</occupancy>
  <description>Suite with Balcony (VS)</description>
  <suppliment>2300</suppliment>
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</cabin>
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  <date>
    <day>10</day>
    <month>7</month>
    <year>2010</year>
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    <doublesPrice>6190</doublesPrice>
    <triplesPrice>5756</triplesPrice>
    <quadsPrice>0</quadsPrice>
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  <categoryCode>AL 20101</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>1</occupancy>
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  <suppliment>0</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>7352</totalPrice>
</cabin>
<cabin>
  <categoryCode>AL 20101</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>2</occupancy>
  <description>Inside Double  (JJ)</description>
  <suppliment>0</suppliment>
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  <categoryCode>AL 20101</categoryCode>
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  <suppliment>0</suppliment>
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  <categoryCode>AL 20102</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>1</occupancy>
  <description>Oceanview-Window (EE)</description>
  <suppliment>832</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>8184</totalPrice>
</cabin>
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  <categoryCode>AL 20102</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>2</occupancy>
  <description>Oceanview-Window (EE)</description>
  <suppliment>600</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>6790</totalPrice>
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  <description>Oceanview with Balcony (BC)</description>
  <suppliment>1552</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>8904</totalPrice>
</cabin>
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  <categoryCode>AL 20103</categoryCode>
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  <description>Oceanview with Balcony (BC)</description>
  <suppliment>775</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>6965</totalPrice>
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  <categoryCode>AL 20104</categoryCode>
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  <totalPrice>9704</totalPrice>
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  <categoryCode>AL 20104</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>2</occupancy>
  <description>Mini-Ste w/Balc.(AB)</description>
  <suppliment>1125</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>7315</totalPrice>
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  <categoryCode>AL 20104</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>3</occupancy>
  <description>Mini-Ste w/Balc.(AB)</description>
  <suppliment>1010</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>6766</totalPrice>
</cabin>
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  <categoryCode>AL 20105</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>1</occupancy>
  <description>Suite with Balcony (VS)</description>
  <suppliment>4324</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>11676</totalPrice>
</cabin>
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  <description>Suite with Balcony (VS)</description>
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  </date>
  <date>
    <day>31</day>
    <month>7</month>
    <year>2010</year>
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    <doublesPrice>6190</doublesPrice>
    <triplesPrice>5756</triplesPrice>
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  <suppliment>0</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>7352</totalPrice>
</cabin>
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  <categoryCode>AL 20101</categoryCode>
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  <description>Inside Double  (JJ)</description>
  <suppliment>0</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>6190</totalPrice>
</cabin>
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  <categoryCode>AL 20101</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>3</occupancy>
  <description>Inside Double  (JJ)</description>
  <suppliment>0</suppliment>
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  <categoryCode>AL 20102</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>1</occupancy>
  <description>Oceanview-Window (EE)</description>
  <suppliment>832</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>8184</totalPrice>
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  <occupancy>2</occupancy>
  <description>Oceanview-Window (EE)</description>
  <suppliment>600</suppliment>
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  <description>Oceanview with Balcony (BC)</description>
  <suppliment>1552</suppliment>
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  <suppliment>2352</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>9704</totalPrice>
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  <occupancy>2</occupancy>
  <description>Mini-Ste w/Balc.(AB)</description>
  <suppliment>1125</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>7315</totalPrice>
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  <categoryCode>AL 20104</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>3</occupancy>
  <description>Mini-Ste w/Balc.(AB)</description>
  <suppliment>1010</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>6766</totalPrice>
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  <occupancy>1</occupancy>
  <description>Suite with Balcony (VS)</description>
  <suppliment>4324</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>11676</totalPrice>
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<cabin>
  <categoryCode>AL 20105</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>2</occupancy>
  <description>Suite with Balcony (VS)</description>
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  <totalPrice>8490</totalPrice>
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<cabin>
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  <occupancy>3</occupancy>
  <description>Suite with Balcony (VS)</description>
  <suppliment>1959</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>7715</totalPrice>
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  </date>

</departureDates>

</tour><tour>
  <sourceId>BI2010</sourceId>
  <title>Istanbul &amp; the Black Sea</title>
  <summary>
    <![CDATA[Explore a treasure trove of historic sites in Ukraine, Romania, Bulgaria and Turkey on a 7-night Black Sea cruise aboard the small ship Le Levant, plus three nights at a luxury hotel in Istanbul.
]]>
  </summary>
  <description>
    <![CDATA[Join the yacht-like Le Levant for a voyage to spellbinding ports of call on Tauck&apos;s Black Sea cruise. Spend three days in exotic Istanbul at a 5-star luxury hotel where your room has views of the Bosphorus, exploring such fabled sights as the Blue Mosque, Süleymaniye Mosque, Topkapi Palace and UNESCO World Heritage Site Hagia Sophia. Enjoy included shore excursions accompanied by your professional Tauck Director and informative local experts. Take in the antiquities and architecture of Nessebur, Bulgaria, another UNESCO World Heritage Site, and visit a private Bulgarian home. Your Black Sea cruise explores rich cultural traditions as Le Levant calls at ports in Romania and along the coast of Ukraine, featuring visits to a former secret Soviet submarine base in Sevastopol... the renowned Massandra Winery for a tasting... the Museum of Partisan Glory and the Potemkin Steps in Odessa... Livadia Palace in Yalta and much more!
]]>
  </description>
  <link>http://cruise-travel.tauck.com/tours/europe-tours/central-and-eastern-europe-tours/black-sea-cruise-bi-2010</link>
  <durationDays>11</durationDays>
  <durationDetails>11 days and 10 nights.</durationDetails>
  <tripType>ESCORTED_TOUR</tripType>
  <brand>TauckAtSea</brand>
  <subbrand>Tauck at Sea</subbrand>
  <gradeRating>ALL_AGES</gradeRating>
  <comfortRating>COMFORTABLE_MIXED</comfortRating>
  <startingLocation>Istanbul, Turkey</startingLocation>
  <prices>
    <price currency="USD">6490</price>
    <priceDetails><![CDATA[All prices are per person in U.S. dollars. ]]></priceDetails>
  </prices>
  <images>
    <image isMain="true">http://tools.tauck.com/Files/ItineraryImages/ListImages/img_BI2010_list.jpg</image>
    <image>http://tools.tauck.com/Files/ItineraryImages/altImages/BI2010_alt1.jpg</image>
    <image>http://tools.tauck.com/Files/ItineraryImages/altImages/BI2010_alt2.jpg</image>
    <image>http://tools.tauck.com/Files/ItineraryImages/altImages/BI2010_alt3.jpg</image>
    <image isMap="true">http://tools.tauck.com/Files/ItineraryImages/MapImages/map_BI2010.jpg</image>
  </images>
  <itinerary>
    <![CDATA[
		
				
						• =
cruise day
				
		
1. Arrive
Istanbul
Tour
begins: 6:00 PM, Ceylan InterContinental Istanbul. A transfer is included from Istanbul
Ataturk Airport to Ceylan InterContinental Istanbul in the heart of Istanbul.
Join us for a welcome reception and dinner tonight. Meals D
2.
Glittering Topkapi Palace
Your first
day in Istanbul features a guided tour of Topkapi Palace and its collection of
priceless treasures. Fourteen courtyards contain multiple palaces, including
the Imperial Treasury and the Harem, the Sultan’s family quarters. See
intriguing exhibits such as the famous jewel-studded dagger that was featured
in the movie Topkapi and the 86-carat Spoonmaker’s Diamond! You’ll also visit the Spice
Bazaar, one of the oldest bazaars in the city. Meals BLD
3.
Turkish Art and Architecture
Explore the
opulent Dolmabahce Palace with its blend of architectural styles reminiscent of
the Palace of Versailles; the palace was the residence of the sultans of the
Ottoman Empire in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. You’ll get a good
view of the European side of the Bosphorus Strait on a drive today en route to
the intriguing Sadberk Hanim Museum, housed in 19th-century wooden villas.
Meals BL
• 4.
Grand Bazaar / Embark Le Levant
City
sightseeing includes the Blue Mosque, magnificent Hagia Sophia, Süleymaniye
Mosque, and Chora Church. No trip to Istanbul is complete without a trip to the
Grand Bazaar; this labyrinth of streets is lined with thousands of “shops”
selling jewelry, carpets, gold and more. Board Le Levant and cruise this evening along the
13-mile Bosphorus Strait. Meals BD
• 5.
Ancient Nessebur, Bulgaria
Take a
walking tour along the narrow cobblestone streets of Nessebur; view
19th-century timbered houses, ancient Greek ruins, medieval churches, and visit
the Archaeological Museum. Get a good look at daily life in Bulgaria on a visit
to a private home in a small Bulgarian village. Lunch today is at a winery
where you’ll sample Bulgarian wines and learn about traditional Bulgarian folk
music and dance. Meals BLD
• 6.
Constanta, Romania
An on-board
lecture by a local expert paves the way for a day spent in Constanta. Steeped
in Greek mythology, this seaside city tempts with Black Sea beaches as well as
Greek and Roman ruins. See the Archaeological Museum, ruins of the Roman
mosaics, the century-old waterfront casino and the Orthodox Cathedral on a
sightseeing tour. Meals BLD
• 7.
Odessa, Ukraine
A cultural
treasure house, Odessa is one of Europe’s major Black Sea ports. A city tour
includes the Potemkin Steps, the Opera House and The Odessa Fine Arts Museum,
featuring Ukranian and Russian works of art. Explore Odessa as you please this
afternoon, or visit the Museum of Partisan Glory, housed in underground
catacombs that sheltered resistance fighters during World War II. Meals BLD
• 8.
Secrets of Sevastopol in the Crimea
Cast anchor
in Sevastopol on the Crimea, once the main port for the Soviet Navy, and closed
to “outsiders” until 1995. View the Panorama and discover the story behind The
Charge of the Light Brigade. Your visit to a secret submarine base hidden under
a mountain offers a new perspective on Cold War history – Balaclava was one of
the most secret villages in the Soviet Union. Reboard Le Levant for Yalta. Meals BLD
• 9.
Yalta, Seaside Resort of the Czars
Journey to
seaside Yalta; a drive along the coast affords an opportunity to view Swallow’s
Nest, one of Europe’s most romantic castles, en route to Livadia Palace, summer
retreat of the czars and site of the 1945 Yalta Conference. Attend a wine
tasting at the Massandra Winery, home to the world’s largest private wine
collection – the winery was built in the 1890s to supply Czar Nicholas II’s
nearby summer palace. Dessert wines are a specialty of the region! Meals BLD
• 10. Day
at Sea
Enjoy a
relaxing day aboard Le Levant as she cruises along the Black Sea. Join us for
the Captain’s farewell cocktail party and dinner aboard ship as Le Levant sails to Istanbul. Meals BLD
11.
Disembark Ship / Journey Home
Disembark Le Levant in Istanbul. Tour ends: Istanbul. A
transfer is included from the dock to Istanbul Ataturk Airport (10:00 AM
arrival) or to Ceylan InterContinental for those spending additional nights in
Istanbul. Allow 21/2 hours for flight check-in. Meals B
]]>
  </itinerary>
  <itineraryDetails>
    <itineraryDay day="1">
  <title>Arrive Istanbul</title>
  <description>Tour begins: 6:00 PM, Ceylan InterContinental Istanbul. A transfer is included from Istanbul Ataturk Airport to Ceylan InterContinental Istanbul in the heart of Istanbul. Join us for a welcome reception and dinner tonight.</description>
  <overnight>Ceylan InterContinental Istanbul</overnight>
  <meals>Dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="2">
  <title>Glittering Topkapi Palace</title>
  <description>Your first day in Istanbul features a guided tour of Topkapi Palace and its collection of priceless treasures. Fourteen courtyards contain multiple palaces, including the Imperial Treasury and the Harem, the Sultan’s family quarters. See intriguing exhibits such as the famous jewel-studded dagger that was featured in the movie Topkapi and the 86-carat Spoonmaker’s Diamond! You’ll also visit the Spice Bazaar, one of the oldest bazaars in the city.</description>
  <overnight>Ceylan InterContinental Istanbul</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="3">
  <title>Turkish Art and Architecture</title>
  <description>Explore the opulent Dolmabahce Palace with its blend of architectural styles reminiscent of the Palace of Versailles; the palace was the residence of the sultans of the Ottoman Empire in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. You’ll get a good view of the European side of the Bosphorus Strait on a drive today en route to the intriguing Sadberk Hanim Museum, housed in 19th-century wooden villas.</description>
  <overnight>Ceylan InterContinental Istanbul</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="4">
  <title>Grand Bazaar / Embark Le Levant</title>
  <description>City sightseeing includes the Blue Mosque, magnificent Hagia Sophia, Süleymaniye Mosque, and Chora Church. No trip to Istanbul is complete without a trip to the Grand Bazaar; this labyrinth of streets is lined with thousands of “shops” selling jewelry, carpets, gold and more. Board Le Levant and cruise this evening along the 13-mile Bosphorus Strait.</description>
  <overnight>Cruising aboard Le Levant</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="5">
  <title>Ancient Nessebur, Bulgaria</title>
  <description>Take a walking tour along the narrow cobblestone streets of Nessebur; view 19th-century timbered houses, ancient Greek ruins, medieval churches, and visit the Archaeological Museum. Get a good look at daily life in Bulgaria on a visit to a private home in a small Bulgarian village. Lunch today is at a winery where you’ll sample Bulgarian wines and learn about traditional Bulgarian folk music and dance.</description>
  <overnight>Cruising aboard Le Levant</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="6">
  <title>Constanta, Romania</title>
  <description>An on-board lecture by a local expert paves the way for a day spent in Constanta. Steeped in Greek mythology, this seaside city tempts with Black Sea beaches as well as Greek and Roman ruins. See the Archaeological Museum, ruins of the Roman mosaics, the century-old waterfront casino and the Orthodox Cathedral on a sightseeing tour.</description>
  <overnight>Cruising aboard Le Levant</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="7">
  <title>Odessa, Ukraine</title>
  <description>A cultural treasure house, Odessa is one of Europe’s major Black Sea ports. A city tour includes the Potemkin Steps, the Opera House and The Odessa Fine Arts Museum, featuring Ukranian and Russian works of art. Explore Odessa as you please this afternoon, or visit the Museum of Partisan Glory, housed in underground catacombs that sheltered resistance fighters during World War II.</description>
  <overnight>Cruising aboard Le Levant</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="8">
  <title>Secrets of Sevastopol in the Crimea</title>
  <description>Cast anchor in Sevastopol on the Crimea, once the main port for the Soviet Navy, and closed to “outsiders” until 1995. View the Panorama and discover the story behind The Charge of the Light Brigade. Your visit to a secret submarine base hidden under a mountain offers a new perspective on Cold War history – Balaclava was one of the most secret villages in the Soviet Union. Reboard Le Levant for Yalta.</description>
  <overnight>Cruising aboard Le Levant</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="9">
  <title>Yalta, Seaside Resort of the Czars</title>
  <description>Journey to seaside Yalta; a drive along the coast affords an opportunity to view Swallow’s Nest, one of Europe’s most romantic castles, en route to Livadia Palace, summer retreat of the czars and site of the 1945 Yalta Conference. Attend a wine tasting at the Massandra Winery, home to the world’s largest private wine collection – the winery was built in the 1890s to supply Czar Nicholas II’s nearby summer palace. Dessert wines are a specialty of the region!</description>
  <overnight>Cruising aboard Le Levant</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="10">
  <title>Day at Sea</title>
  <description>Enjoy a relaxing day aboard Le Levant as she cruises along the Black Sea. Join us for the Captain’s farewell cocktail party and dinner aboard ship as Le Levant sails to Istanbul.</description>
  <overnight>Cruising aboard Le Levant</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="11">
  <title>Disembark Ship / Journey Home</title>
  <description>Disembark Le Levant in Istanbul. Tour ends: Istanbul. A transfer is included from the dock to Istanbul Ataturk Airport (10:00 AM arrival) or to Ceylan InterContinental for those spending additional nights in Istanbul. Allow 21/2 hours for flight check-in.</description>
  <overnight></overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast</meals>
</itineraryDay>
  </itineraryDetails>
  <highlights>		

7-Night Le Levant Cruise ~ Turkey ~ Bulgaria ~ Romania ~ Ukraine
</highlights>
  <tauckValues>
    <value order="1">All gratuities to Tauck Director, ship staff, local guides and drivers</value><value order="2">Cruise aboard the yacht Le Levant with only 90 guests, featuring cultural entertainment and lectures</value><value order="3">3 nights in the center of Istanbul at a luxury 5-star hotel; guest rooms have views of the Bosphorus</value><value order="4">Private Tauck Shore Excursions  $883 Value!</value><value order="5">Visits to the former Soviet navy base at Sevastopol; Livadia Palace; the Museum of Partisan Glory; a private Bulgarian home; and Massandra Winery, home to the worlds largest private wine collection, for a wine tasting</value><value order="6">Cocktail hour, all-day soft drinks, wine with dinner aboard ship</value><value order="7">Most meals (10 breakfasts, 8 lunches, 9 dinners) on land and at sea</value><value order="8">Service charges, applicable fuel surcharges, taxes, porterage and airport transfers</value>
  </tauckValues>  
  
</tour><tour>
  <sourceId>BNE2010</sourceId>
  <title>Mediterranean Discovery </title>
  <summary>
    <![CDATA[		
From France&apos;s glamorous Côte d&apos;Azur to Spain&apos;s Costa Brava and lovely Majorca, a magical cruise aboard the sporty yacht Le Ponant sails to some of the trendiest destinations on the Mediterranean.
]]>
  </summary>
  <description>
    <![CDATA[Discover the some of the most popular &quot;jet setter&quot; destinations along the Mediterranean coast, from Spain’s magnificent Costa Brava to the glamorous Cóte d’Azur, on a cruise aboard Le Ponant. What makes this cruise different are the shore excursions, such as an exclusive private farm visit including a Provençal lunch and cowboy demonstration in the Camargue... exploring history and art on visits to Carcassonne, Ile de Porquerolles, and Figueres on the Costa Brava... fun in the sun on the trendy islands of Majorca and Minorca... and in-depth sightseeing in Barcelona and Monte-Carlo on land stays at outstanding hotels in the hearts of the cities.
]]>
  </description>
  <link>http://cruise-travel.tauck.com/tours/europe-tours/mediterranean-tours/costa-brava-bne-2010</link>
  <durationDays>11</durationDays>
  <durationDetails>11 days and 10 nights.</durationDetails>
  <tripType>ESCORTED_TOUR</tripType>
  <brand>TauckAtSea</brand>
  <subbrand>Tauck at Sea</subbrand>
  <gradeRating>ALL_AGES</gradeRating>
  <comfortRating>COMFORTABLE_MIXED</comfortRating>
  <startingLocation>Barcelona, Spain</startingLocation>
  <prices>
    <price currency="USD">6990</price>
    <priceDetails><![CDATA[All prices are per person in U.S. dollars. ]]></priceDetails>
  </prices>
  <images>
    <image isMain="true">http://tools.tauck.com/Files/ItineraryImages/ListImages/img_BNE2010_list.jpg</image>
    <image>http://tools.tauck.com/Files/ItineraryImages/altImages/BNE2010_alt1.jpg</image>
    <image>http://tools.tauck.com/Files/ItineraryImages/altImages/BNE2010_alt2.jpg</image>
    <image>http://tools.tauck.com/Files/ItineraryImages/altImages/BNE2010_alt3.jpg</image>
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  </images>
  <itinerary>
    <![CDATA[Eastbound (Barcelona – Monte-Carlo)

• = cruise day

1. Arrive Barcelona
Tour begins: 6:00 PM, Le Méridien Barcelona. A transfer is included from Barcelona International Airport to Le Méridien Barcelona, your hotel on Las Ramblas. Join us tonight for a welcome reception and dinner. Meals D

2. Sightsee Barcelona
Guided sightseeing with local guides includes some of the magnificent works of architect Gaudí – la Sagrada Família, his unfinished basilica, and whimsical Parc Güell – and Las Ramblas; enjoy an optional visit to the Museu Picasso or spend the rest of the day at leisure. Meals B

• 3. Barri Gòtic / Embark Le Ponant
Delve into Barcelona’s history this morning on a visit to the Gothic district, Barri Gòtic, where a walking tour reveals traces of civilizations dating back thousands of years. You have a choice of a visit to the Maritime Museum or Gaudí’s La Pedrera. Board Le Ponant in the late afternoon. Meals BD

• 4. Palma de Majorca 
Le Ponant docks at Palma de Majorca, where a sightseeing tour includes a visit to the majestic Gothic Cathedral; the views of the cathedral from sea are equally memorable.  Enjoy your Captain’s welcome dinner tonight. Meals BLD

• 5. Hidden Coves of Minorca
Explore Minorca, discovering its beautiful beaches and colorful history, and visit Mahón, the island’s capital. This city overlooks one of Europe’s finest natural beaches and is dressed with refined Georgian architecture. Le Ponant anchors off Ciutadella this afternoon, bringing you to and from shore aboard the ship’s Zodiac-style boats. Meals BLD

• 6. Spain’s Marvelous Costa Brava
Dock at Palamós off the “wild coast” of Spain, Costa Brava, for a choice of sightseeing today. Journey to Salvador Dali’s hometown of Figueres to visit the Dali Museum, followed by an excursion off-the-beaten path to the seaside resort of Cadaqués. Or, travel with us to medieval Girona on the Onyar River for a walking tour. Meals BLD

• 7. French Abbeys and Fortresses
Venture inland today to the Citadel of Carcassonne for a walk around the outer walls of La Cité and an inside look at Basilique St-Nazaire. This stunning cathedral is renowned for its beautiful stained glass windows, rose medallions and a 16th-century organ thought to be one of the oldest in southwestern France. Have lunch at Hotel de La Cité, then continue on to the secluded Abbaye de Frontfroide. Meals BLD

• 8. La Camargue, Nature’s Sanctuary
Experience a full day ashore in La Camargue. Learn about the natural history of the Rhone Delta, drive by salt flats where fleur de sel (flower of salt) is harvested by hand and look for the flamingoes and wild white horses that roam freely here. Dine on traditional Provençal fare at a local farm where lunch is hosted by the owners. A demonstration by Camargue cowboys includes Spain’s famous black bulls and is sure to be a treasured highlight of today’s private shore excursion – a very exclusive Tauck experience! Meals BLD

• 9. Ile de Porquerolles
One of the benefits of small ship cruising is having access to ports and hidden harbors where the big ships don’t go. Land today on the largest island in the charming Iles d’Hyères, the Ile de Porquerolles. After a brief walking tour to historic Fort Ste. Agathe, the entire day is free for exploring, beachcombing, bike riding, water sports, café life or a rousing game of petanque. Join us tonight for the Captain’s farewell dinner aboard ship. Meals BLD

10. Disembark Nice / Monte-Carlo
Disembark ship in Nice on the French Riviera. An orientation sightseeing tour shows you landmark sights, including the Russian Orthodox Cathedral and Old Town Nice, followed by time at leisure to explore as you please. A choice of visits later today includes Musée Matisse, home to outstanding works by Henri Matisse. Or you may choose to view the art of Marc Chagall in the Musée National Message Biblique Marc Chagall. Travel to Monte-Carlo for a guided tour; then settle in at the Fairmont Monte Carlo for an overnight stay and our farewell dinner. Meals BD

11. Journey Home. Tour ends: Monte-Carlo. Fly home anytime. A transfer is included from the Fairmont Monte Carlo to Nice Côte d’Azur Airport. Allow 2 1/2 hours for check-in. Meals B
]]>
  </itinerary>
  <itineraryDetails>
    <itineraryDay day="1">
  <title>Arrive Barcelona</title>
  <description>Tour begins: 6:00 PM, Le M&amp;#233;ridien Barcelona.  A transfer is included from Barcelona International Airport to Le M&amp;#233;ridien Barcelona, your hotel on Las Ramblas.  Join us tonight for a welcome reception and dinner.  Meals D</description>
  <overnight>Le Méridien Barcelona</overnight>
  <meals>Dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="2">
  <title>Sightsee Barcelona</title>
  <description>Guided sightseeing with local guides includes some of the magnificent works of architect Gaud&amp;#237; &amp;#45; la Sagrada Fam&amp;#237;lia, his unfinished basilica, and whimsical Parc G&amp;#252;ell &amp;#45; and Las Ramblas; enjoy an optional visit to the Museu Picasso or spend the rest of the day at leisure.  Meals B</description>
  <overnight>Le Méridien Barcelona</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="3">
  <title>Barri G&amp;#242;tic / Embark Le Ponant</title>
  <description>Delve into Barcelona&apos;s history this morning on a visit to the Gothic district, Barri Gòtic, where a walking tour reveals traces of civilizations dating back thousands of years.  You have a choice of a visit to the Maritime Museum or Gaudí&apos;s La Pedrera.  Board Le Ponant in the late afternoon.</description>
  <overnight>Aboard Le Ponant</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="4">
  <title>Palma de Majorca </title>
  <description>Le Ponant docks at Palma de Majorca, where a sightseeing tour includes a visit to the majestic Gothic Cathedral; the views of the cathedral from sea are equally memorable.  Enjoy your Captain&apos;s welcome dinner tonight.</description>
  <overnight>Aboard Le Ponant</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="5">
  <title>Hidden Coves of Minorca</title>
  <description>Explore Minorca, discovering its beautiful beaches and colorful history, and visit Mahón, the island&apos;s capital.  This city overlooks one of Europe&apos;s finest natural beaches and is dressed with refined Georgian architecture.  Le Ponant anchors off Ciutadella this afternoon, bringing you to and from shore aboard the ship&apos;s Zodiac-style boats.</description>
  <overnight>Aboard Le Ponant</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="6">
  <title>Spain&apos;s Marvelous Costa Brava</title>
  <description>Dock at Palamós off the “wild coast” of Spain, Costa Brava, for a choice of sightseeing today.  Journey to Salvador Dali&apos;s hometown of Figueres to visit the Dali Museum, followed by an excursion off-the-beaten path to the seaside resort of Cadaqués.  Or, travel with us to medieval Girona on the Onyar River for a walking tour.</description>
  <overnight>Aboard Le Ponant</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="7">
  <title>French Abbeys and Fortresses</title>
  <description>Venture inland today to the Citadel of Carcassonne for a walk around the outer walls of La Cité and an inside look at Basilique St-Nazaire.  This stunning cathedral is renowned for its beautiful stained glass windows, rose medallions and a 16th-century organ thought to be one of the oldest in southwestern France.  Have lunch at Hotel de La Cité, then continue on to the secluded Abbaye de Frontfroide.</description>
  <overnight>Aboard Le Ponant</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="8">
  <title>La Camargue, Nature&apos;s Sanctuary</title>
  <description>Experience a full day ashore in La Camargue.  Learn about the natural history of the Rhone Delta, drive by salt flats where fleur de sel (flower of salt) is harvested by hand and look for the flamingoes and wild white horses that roam freely here.  Dine on traditional Provençal fare at a local farm where lunch is hosted by the owners.  A demonstration by Camargue cowboys includes Spain&apos;s famous black bulls and is sure to be a treasured highlight of today&apos;s private shore excursion - a very exclusive Tauck experience!</description>
  <overnight>Aboard Le Ponant</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="9">
  <title>Ile de Porquerolles</title>
  <description>One of the benefits of small ship cruising is having access to ports and hidden harbors where the big ships don&apos;t go.  Land today on the largest island in the charming Iles d&apos;Hyères, the Ile de Porquerolles.  After a brief walking tour to historic Fort Ste.  Agathe, the entire day is free for exploring, beachcombing, bike riding, water sports, café life or a rousing game of petanque.  Join us tonight for the Captain&apos;s farewell dinner aboard ship.</description>
  <overnight>Aboard Le Ponant</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="10">
  <title>Disembark Nice / Monte&amp;#45;Carlo</title>
  <description>Disembark ship in Nice on the French Riviera.  An orientation sightseeing tour shows you landmark sights, including the Russian Orthodox Cathedral and Old Town Nice, followed by time at leisure to explore as you please.  A choice of visits later today includes Mus&amp;#233;e Matisse, home to outstanding works by Henri Matisse.  Or you may choose to view the art of Marc Chagall in the Mus&amp;#233;e National Message Biblique Marc Chagall.  Travel to Monte&amp;#45;Carlo for a guided tour; then settle in at the Fairmont Monte Carlo for an overnight stay and our farewell dinner.  Meals BD</description>
  <overnight>Fairmont Monte Carlo</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="11">
  <title>Journey Home</title>
  <description>Tour ends: Monte-Carlo. Fly home anytime. A transfer is included from the Fairmont Monte Carlo to Nice Côte d’Azur Airport. Allow 2 1/2 hours for check-in.&amp;nbsp;</description>
  <overnight>Fairmont Monte Carlo</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast</meals>
</itineraryDay>
  </itineraryDetails>
  <highlights>
		
				7-Night Cruise on Le Ponant ~ Barcelona ~ Majorca ~ Minorca ~ Monaco 
</highlights>
  <tauckValues>
    <value order="1">All gratuities to Tauck Director, ship staff, local guides and drivers</value><value order="2">Cruise aboard Le Ponant with only 60 guests</value><value order="3">1 night in Monte-Carlo and 2 nights in Barcelona at luxury hotels in the heart of the cities</value><value order="4">Private Tauck Shore Excursions  $827 Value!</value><value order="5">Tauck Exclusive! A full day in La Camargue featuring a private ranch visit and a traditional Provenal lunch hosted by the owners plus a Camargue cowboy demonstration with Spains famed black bulls</value><value order="6">Small yacht benefits such as swimming directly off the back of Le Ponant in Mediterranean coves, and access to islands and small ports inaccessible to large ships</value><value order="7">Cocktail hour, all-day soft drinks, wine with dinner aboard ship</value><value order="8">Most meals (10 breakfasts, 6 lunches, 9 dinners) on land and at sea</value><value order="9">Service charges, applicable fuel surcharges, taxes, porterage and airport transfers</value>
  </tauckValues>  
  <departureDates>
    <date>
    <day>17</day>
    <month>6</month>
    <year>2010</year>
    <singlesPrice>10230</singlesPrice>
    <doublesPrice>7490</doublesPrice>
    <triplesPrice>6378</triplesPrice>
    <quadsPrice>0</quadsPrice>
    <cabins>
<cabin>
  <categoryCode>BNE20101</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>1</occupancy>
  <description>Cat. A - 2 twins or 1 double</description>
  <suppliment>0</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>10230</totalPrice>
</cabin>
<cabin>
  <categoryCode>BNE20101</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>2</occupancy>
  <description>Cat. A - 2 twins or 1 double</description>
  <suppliment>0</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>7490</totalPrice>
</cabin>
<cabin>
  <categoryCode>BNE20102</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>1</occupancy>
  <description>Cat. A - 1 fixed double or triple</description>
  <suppliment>0</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>10230</totalPrice>
</cabin>
<cabin>
  <categoryCode>BNE20102</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>2</occupancy>
  <description>Cat. A - 1 fixed double or triple</description>
  <suppliment>0</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>7490</totalPrice>
</cabin>
<cabin>
  <categoryCode>BNE20102</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>3</occupancy>
  <description>Cat. A - 1 fixed double or triple</description>
  <suppliment>0</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>6378</totalPrice>
</cabin>
<cabin>
  <categoryCode>BNE20103</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>1</occupancy>
  <description>Cat. B - 1 fixed double</description>
  <suppliment>230</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>10460</totalPrice>
</cabin>
<cabin>
  <categoryCode>BNE20103</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>2</occupancy>
  <description>Cat. B - 1 fixed double</description>
  <suppliment>230</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>7720</totalPrice>
</cabin></cabins>
  </date>
  <date>
    <day>1</day>
    <month>7</month>
    <year>2010</year>
    <singlesPrice>7730</singlesPrice>
    <doublesPrice>6990</doublesPrice>
    <triplesPrice>6045</triplesPrice>
    <quadsPrice>0</quadsPrice>
    <cabins>
<cabin>
  <categoryCode>BNE20101</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>1</occupancy>
  <description>Cat. A - 2 twins or 1 double</description>
  <suppliment>0</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>7730</totalPrice>
</cabin>
<cabin>
  <categoryCode>BNE20101</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>2</occupancy>
  <description>Cat. A - 2 twins or 1 double</description>
  <suppliment>0</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>6990</totalPrice>
</cabin>
<cabin>
  <categoryCode>BNE20102</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>1</occupancy>
  <description>Cat. A - 1 fixed double or triple</description>
  <suppliment>0</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>7730</totalPrice>
</cabin>
<cabin>
  <categoryCode>BNE20102</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>2</occupancy>
  <description>Cat. A - 1 fixed double or triple</description>
  <suppliment>0</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>6990</totalPrice>
</cabin>
<cabin>
  <categoryCode>BNE20102</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>3</occupancy>
  <description>Cat. A - 1 fixed double or triple</description>
  <suppliment>0</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>6045</totalPrice>
</cabin>
<cabin>
  <categoryCode>BNE20103</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>1</occupancy>
  <description>Cat. B - 1 fixed double</description>
  <suppliment>230</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>7960</totalPrice>
</cabin>
<cabin>
  <categoryCode>BNE20103</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>2</occupancy>
  <description>Cat. B - 1 fixed double</description>
  <suppliment>230</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>7220</totalPrice>
</cabin></cabins>
  </date>

</departureDates>

</tour><tour>
  <sourceId>BNW2010</sourceId>
  <title>Mediterranean Discovery</title>
  <summary>
    <![CDATA[From France&apos;s glamorous Côte d&apos;Azur to Spain&apos;s Costa Brava and lovely Majorca, a magical cruise aboard the sporty yacht Le Ponant sails to some of the trendiest destinations on the Mediterranean.
]]>
  </summary>
  <description>
    <![CDATA[Discover the some of the most popular &quot;jet setter&quot; destinations along
the Mediterranean coast, from Spain’s magnificent Costa Brava to the
glamorous Cóte d’Azur, on a cruise aboard Le Ponant. What
makes this cruise different are the shore excursions, such as an
exclusive private farm visit including a Provençal lunch and cowboy
demonstration in the Camargue... exploring history and art on visits to
Carcassonne, Ile de Porquerolles, and Figueres on the Costa Brava... fun
in the sun on the trendy islands of Majorca and Minorca... and in-depth
sightseeing in Barcelona and Monte-Carlo on land stays at outstanding
hotels in the hearts of the cities.
]]>
  </description>
  <link>http://cruise-travel.tauck.com/tours/europe-tours/mediterranean-tours/cote-dazur-bnw-2010</link>
  <durationDays>11</durationDays>
  <durationDetails>11 days and 10 nights.</durationDetails>
  <tripType>ESCORTED_TOUR</tripType>
  <brand>TauckAtSea</brand>
  <subbrand>Tauck at Sea</subbrand>
  <gradeRating>ALL_AGES</gradeRating>
  <comfortRating>COMFORTABLE_MIXED</comfortRating>
  <startingLocation>Nice, France</startingLocation>
  <prices>
    <price currency="USD">6990</price>
    <priceDetails><![CDATA[All prices are per person in U.S. dollars. ]]></priceDetails>
  </prices>
  <images>
    <image isMain="true">http://tools.tauck.com/Files/ItineraryImages/ListImages/img_BNW2010_list.jpg</image>
    <image>http://tools.tauck.com/Files/ItineraryImages/altImages/BNW2010_alt1.jpg</image>
    <image>http://tools.tauck.com/Files/ItineraryImages/altImages/BNW2010_alt2.jpg</image>
    <image>http://tools.tauck.com/Files/ItineraryImages/altImages/BNW2010_alt3.jpg</image>
    <image isMap="true">http://tools.tauck.com/Files/ItineraryImages/MapImages/map_BNW2010.jpg</image>
  </images>
  <itinerary>
    <![CDATA[Westbound (Monte-Carlo – Barcelona)

• = cruise day

1. Arrive Nice / Monte-Carlo
Tour begins: 6:00 PM, Fairmont Monte Carlo. A transfer is included from Nice Côte d’Azur Airport to Fairmont Monte Carlo, a luxury hotel set next to the stunning Belle Époque casino in the heart of Monte-Carlo. Join us this evening for a welcome cocktail reception and dinner. Meals D

• 2. Monaco &amp; Nice / Embark Le Ponant
Guided Tauck sightseeing includes a visit to Monaco-Ville (the seat of government) to see 13th-century Palais du Prince, and the Cathedral with the tombs of Prince Rainier and Princess Grace. Continue on to Nice along the French Riviera. An orientation sightseeing tour shows you landmark sights, followed by time at leisure to explore as you please. Late this afternoon you will board Le Ponant for the start of your marvelous seven-day cruise. Meals BD

• 3. Ile de Porquerolles
One of the benefits of cruising the Mediterranean by small ship is the opportunity to explore ports, harbors and islands that are not easily accessible. Join your Tauck Director for a brief guided tour on Iles de Porquerolles, including a visit to historic Fort Ste. Agathe. The rest of the day is free for you to enjoy the island’s beaches or town, or weather permitting, swim or kayak off the stern of your yacht. Join us for the Captain’s welcome dinner tonight. Meals BLD

• 4. La Camargue, Nature’s Sanctuary
Enjoy a full day ashore in La Camargue. Learn about the natural history of the Rhone Delta as you drive by salt flats where fleur de sel (flower of salt) is harvested by hand and look for the wild white horses and flamingos that roam freely here. Experience an in-depth look at the cultural traditions of this region during a visit to a working farm. Dine on traditional Provençal fare during a special luncheon hosted by the owners in a converted sheep barn, followed by a demonstration by Camargue cowboys and their livestock, including Spain’s famous black bulls –– a very special exclusive Tauck experience! Meals BLD

• 5. Abbeys and Fortresses
Venture inland today to the walled Citadel of Carcassonne, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. A walk on the outer walls of La Cité entices with stunning alpine scenery. Go inside the walls for a visit to Basilique St-Nazaire to see the cathedral’s beautiful stained glass windows, rose medallions, 16th-century organ and a remarkably preserved bishop’s tomb from 1266. After lunch at the lovely Hotel de La Cité, visit the Benedictine Abbaye de Frontfroide. Meals BLD

• 6. Spain’s Marvelous Costa Brava
Dock at Palamós on the “wild” Costa Brava for a choice of sightseeing today. Journey to Salvador Dali’s hometown of Figueres, located in the heart of Catalonia, followed by an excursion to the seaside resort of Cadaqués, close to the French border. Alternatively, you may choose to visit the medieval town of Girona along the Onyar River, one of the most important historical sights in Spain. Meals BLD

• 7. Hidden Coves of Minorca
Spend the day on Minorca. Visit Mahón, the island’s capital, and embark on a walking tour in Ciutadella. Enjoy the Captain’s farewell dinner aboard ship tonight. Meals BLD

• 8. Palma de Majorca 
Le Ponant docks near the center of famous Palma de Majorca, where a sightseeing tour ashore includes a visit to the magnificent Gothic Cathedral overlooking the sea. The remainder of the day is at leisure. Meals BLD

9. Disembark Barcelona
Disembark Le Ponant in Barcelona and take a sightseeing tour with local guides that includes some of the magnificent works of architect Gaudí –– Sagrada Família, his unfinished basilica, and Parc Güell. Explore Las Ramblas before spending the rest of the day on your own. Meals B

10. Barcelona – Gothic and Gaudî 
Delve into Barcelona’s history this morning on a visit to the Gothic district, Barri Gotic; a walking tour reveals traces of civilizations dating back thousands of years. Later, you have a choice of a visit to the Maritime Museum, Gaudí’s La Pedrera or the Museu Picasso. Join us this evening for a farewell cocktail party and dinner. Meals BD

11. Journey Home
Tour ends: Barcelona. Transfers are included from Le Méridien Barcelona to Barcelona International Airport. Allow 21/2 hours for flight check-in. Meals B

]]>
  </itinerary>
  <itineraryDetails>
    <itineraryDay day="1">
  <title>Arrive Nice / Monte&amp;#45;Carlo</title>
  <description>Tour begins: 6:00 PM, Fairmont Monte Carlo.  A transfer is included from Nice C&amp;#244;te d&apos;Azur Airport to Fairmont Monte Carlo, a luxury hotel set next to the stunning Belle &amp;#201;poque casino in the heart of Monte&amp;#45;Carlo.  Join us this evening for a welcome cocktail reception and dinner.  Meals D</description>
  <overnight>Fairmont Monte Carlo, Monte-Carlo, Monaco</overnight>
  <meals>Dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="2">
  <title>Monaco &amp; Nice / Embark Le Ponant</title>
  <description>Guided Tauck sightseeing includes a visit to Monaco&amp;#45;Ville (the seat of government) to see 13th&amp;#45;century Palais du Prince, and the Cathedral with the tombs of Prince Rainier and Princess Grace.  Continue on to Nice along the French Riviera.  An orientation sightseeing tour shows you landmark sights, followed by time at leisure to explore as you please.  Late this afternoon you will board Le Ponant for the start of your marvelous seven&amp;#45;day cruise.  Meals BD</description>
  <overnight>Aboard Le Ponant</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="3">
  <title>Ile de Porquerolles</title>
  <description>One of the benefits of cruising the Mediterranean by small ship is the opportunity to explore ports, harbors and islands that are not easily accessible.  Join your Tauck Director for a brief guided tour on Iles de Porquerolles, including a visit to historic Fort Ste.  Agathe.  The rest of the day is free for you to enjoy the island&apos;s beaches or town, or weather permitting, swim or kayak off the stern of your yacht.  Join us for the Captain&apos;s welcome dinner tonight.</description>
  <overnight>Aboard Le Ponant</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="4">
  <title>La Camargue, Nature&apos;s Sanctuary</title>
  <description>Enjoy a full day ashore in La Camargue.  Learn about the natural history of the Rhone Delta as you drive by salt flats where fleur de sel (flower of salt) is harvested by hand and look for the wild white horses and flamingos that roam freely here.  Experience an in-depth look at the cultural traditions of this region during a visit to a working farm.  Dine on traditional Provençal fare during a special luncheon hosted by the owners in a converted sheep barn, followed by a demonstration by Camargue cowboys and their livestock, including Spain&apos;s famous black bulls -- a very special exclusive Tauck experience!</description>
  <overnight>Aboard Le Ponant</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="5">
  <title>Abbeys and Fortresses</title>
  <description>Venture inland today to the walled Citadel of Carcassonne, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.  A walk on the outer walls of La Cité entices with stunning alpine scenery.  Go inside the walls for a visit to Basilique St-Nazaire to see the cathedral&apos;s beautiful stained glass windows, rose medallions, 16th-century organ and a remarkably preserved bishop&apos;s tomb from 1266. After lunch at the lovely Hotel de la Cite, visit the Benedictine Abbaye de Frontfroide.</description>
  <overnight>Aboard Le Ponant</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="6">
  <title>Spain&apos;s Marvelous Costa Brava</title>
  <description>Dock at Palamós on the “wild” Costa Brava for a choice of sightseeing today. Journey to Salvador Dali’s hometown of Figueres, located in the heart of Catalonia, followed by an excursion to the seaside resort of Cadaqués, close to the French border. Alternatively, you may choose to visit the medieval town of Girona along the Onyar River, one of the most important historical sights in Spain.</description>
  <overnight>Aboard Le Ponant</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="7">
  <title>Hidden Coves of Minorca</title>
  <description>Spend the day on Minorca.  Visit Mahón, the island&apos;s capital, and embark on a walking tour in Ciutadella.  Enjoy the Captain&apos;s farewell dinner aboard ship tonight.  Meals BLD</description>
  <overnight>Aboard Le Ponant</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="8">
  <title>Palma de Majorca </title>
  <description>Le Ponant docks near the center of famous Palma de Majorca, where a sightseeing tour ashore includes a visit to the magnificent Gothic Cathedral overlooking the sea.  The remainder of the day is at leisure.</description>
  <overnight>Aboard Le Ponant</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="9">
  <title>Disembark Barcelona</title>
  <description>Disembark Le Ponant in Barcelona and take a sightseeing tour with local guides that includes some of the magnificent works of architect Gaud&amp;#237; &amp;#45;&amp;#45; Sagrada Fam&amp;#237;lia, his unfinished basilica, and Parc G&amp;#252;ell.  Explore Las Ramblas before spending the rest of the day on your own.  Meals B</description>
  <overnight>Le Méridien Barcelona, Spain</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="10">
  <title>Barcelona &amp;#45; Gothic and Gaud&amp;#238; </title>
  <description>Delve into Barcelona&apos;s history this morning on a visit to the Gothic district, Barri Gotic; a walking tour reveals traces of civilizations dating back thousands of years.  Later, you have a choice of a visit to the Maritime Museum, Gaud&amp;#237;&apos;s La Pedrera or the Museu Picasso.  Join us this evening for a farewell cocktail party and dinner.  Meals BD</description>
  <overnight>Le Méridien Barcelona, Spain</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="11">
  <title>Journey Home</title>
  <description>Tour ends: Barcelona. Transfers are included from Le Méridien Barcelona to Barcelona International Airport. Allow 21/2 hours for flight check-in.</description>
  <overnight>Le Méridien Barcelona, Spain</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast</meals>
</itineraryDay>
  </itineraryDetails>
  <highlights>
		
				
						
								7-Night Cruise on Le Ponant ~ Monaco ~ Minorca ~ Majorca ~ Barcelona 
				
		
</highlights>
  <tauckValues>
    <value order="1">All gratuities to Tauck Director, ship staff, local guides and drivers</value><value order="2">Cruise aboard Le Ponant with only 60 guests</value><value order="3">1 night in Monte-Carlo and 2 nights in Barcelona at luxury hotels in the heart of the cities</value><value order="4">Private Tauck Shore Excursions  $827 Value!</value><value order="5">Tauck Exclusive! A full day in La Camargue featuring a private ranch visit and a traditional Provenal lunch hosted by the owners plus a Camargue cowboy demonstration with Spains famed black bulls</value><value order="6">Small yacht benefits such as swimming directly off the back of Le Ponant in Mediterranean coves, and access to islands and small ports inaccessible to large ships</value><value order="7">Cocktail hour, all-day soft drinks, wine with dinner aboard ship</value><value order="8">Most meals (10 breakfasts, 6 lunches, 9 dinners) on land and at sea</value><value order="9">Service charges, applicable fuel surcharges, taxes, porterage and airport transfers</value>
  </tauckValues>  
  <departureDates>
    <date>
    <day>11</day>
    <month>6</month>
    <year>2010</year>
    <singlesPrice>10230</singlesPrice>
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    <triplesPrice>6378</triplesPrice>
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  <categoryCode>BNW20101</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>1</occupancy>
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  <categoryCode>BNW20102</categoryCode>
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  <categoryCode>BNW20102</categoryCode>
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  <description>Cat. A - 1 fixed double or triple</description>
  <suppliment>0</suppliment>
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  <categoryCode>BNW20103</categoryCode>
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  <description>Cat. B - 1 fixed double</description>
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    <day>25</day>
    <month>6</month>
    <year>2010</year>
    <singlesPrice>8230</singlesPrice>
    <doublesPrice>7490</doublesPrice>
    <triplesPrice>6378</triplesPrice>
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  <suppliment>0</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>8230</totalPrice>
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  <categoryCode>BNW20101</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>2</occupancy>
  <description>Cat. A - 2 twins or 1 double</description>
  <suppliment>0</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>7490</totalPrice>
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  <categoryCode>BNW20102</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>1</occupancy>
  <description>Cat. A - 1 fixed double or triple</description>
  <suppliment>0</suppliment>
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  <categoryCode>BNW20102</categoryCode>
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  <categoryCode>BNW20102</categoryCode>
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  <description>Cat. A - 1 fixed double or triple</description>
  <suppliment>0</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>6378</totalPrice>
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  <categoryCode>BNW20103</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>1</occupancy>
  <description>Cat. B - 1 fixed double</description>
  <suppliment>230</suppliment>
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  <categoryCode>BNW20103</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>2</occupancy>
  <description>Cat. B - 1 fixed double</description>
  <suppliment>230</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>7720</totalPrice>
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  </date>

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</tour><tour>
  <sourceId>BR2010</sourceId>
  <title>Best of the Canadian Rockies</title>
  <summary>
    <![CDATA[Glaciers, snow-capped peaks, alpine lakes, and famous hotels highlight this Alberta travel experience through three stunning Canadian national parks, all part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site; explore Jasper &quot;your way&quot; with a choice of outdoor adventures.
]]>
  </summary>
  <description>
    <![CDATA[Tauck&apos;s Canadian Rockies / Alberta travel experience is packed with breathtaking scenery, adventure and natural history as you explore Banff, Jasper and Yoho National parks. Climb up the surface of a glacier on an Ice Explorer... learn park history, legends and folklore at a presentation by a Parks Canada official... keep an eye out for elk, bighorn sheep, moose and grizzlies... discover the Icefields Parkway... explore Jasper National Park &quot;your way&quot; with a choice of wilderness adventures... enjoy an educational wine tasting in Banff National Park... and stay in the Canadian Rockies&apos; best resorts – at The Fairmont Banff Springs, in Signature Club rooms at the Delta Lodge in Kananaskis, and in lake-view rooms at The Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise.
]]>
  </description>
  <link>http://www.tauck.com/tours/canada-tours/western-canada-tours/alberta-travel-br-2010</link>
  <durationDays>7</durationDays>
  <durationDetails>7 days and 6 nights.</durationDetails>
  <tripType>ESCORTED_TOUR</tripType>
  <brand>TWD</brand>
  <subbrand>USA and Canada</subbrand>
  <gradeRating>ALL_AGES</gradeRating>
  <comfortRating>COMFORTABLE_MIXED</comfortRating>
  <startingLocation>Calgary, Alberta, Canada</startingLocation>
  <prices>
    <price currency="USD">2695</price>
    <priceDetails><![CDATA[All prices are per person in U.S. dollars. ]]></priceDetails>
  </prices>
  <images>
    <image isMain="true">http://tools.tauck.com/Files/ItineraryImages/ListImages/img_BR2010_list.jpg</image>
    <image>http://tools.tauck.com/Files/ItineraryImages/altImages/BR2010_alt1.jpg</image>
    <image>http://tools.tauck.com/Files/ItineraryImages/altImages/BR2010_alt2.jpg</image>
    <image>http://tools.tauck.com/Files/ItineraryImages/altImages/BR2010_alt3.jpg</image>
    <image isMap="true">http://tools.tauck.com/Files/ItineraryImages/MapImages/map_BR2010.jpg</image>
  </images>
  <itinerary>
    <![CDATA[1. Arrive Calgary and on to Kananaskis
Tour departs: 3:00 PM from Calgary International Airport. For guests who are spending the previous night in Calgary, an airport transfer from Calgary International Airport to The Fairmont Palliser is included; pick-up time today will be 1:00 PM at The Fairmont Palliser. Best of the Canadian Rockies begins with a journey from Calgary International Airport that takes you across the last few miles of Canadian prairie to Kananaskis country. Located in the foothills and front ranges of the Canadian Rocky Mountains, the alpine scenery is a feast for the eyes! You’ll be staying at the Delta Lodge at Kananaskis this evening, where Tauck has secured Signature Club guest rooms offering exclusive concierge services, complimentary high-speed Internet access in the guest rooms, and access to the Signature Club Lounge. We look forward to seeing you this evening at our welcome cocktail reception and dinner. Meals D

2. Emerald Lake and Lake Louise
See three of the most beautiful lakes in North America today as you journey into the wilderness of the Canadian Rockies. Travel across the Continental Divide through Kicking Horse Pass to exquisite Emerald Lake, set among soaring mountain peaks in Yoho National Park. See the famous Spiral Tunnels of the Canadian Pacific Railway and the Natural Bridge, carved through solid rock, before visiting Moraine Lake, conditions permitting; the crystal-clear lake is nestled in the Valley of the Ten Peaks. Your final destination is Lake Louise, located at the foot of Victoria Glacier – in spring there often is late snow framing the lake with lofty snowbound peaks. You’ll spend this evening at The Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise, located in the heart of Banff National Park, where your guest room overlooks the beautiful vistas of the lake. Meals BLD

3. The Icefields Parkway
Your morning is at leisure for nature walks to experience some of the most breath-taking scenery in North America. After lunch, begin the amazing journey along the Icefields Parkway to Jasper National Park. This stretch of highway is considered by many to be the most spectacular in the Canadian national parks system, commanding a panoramic view of majestic mountains, glaciers, waterfalls, springtime ice-falls and snow-fields. The animals that make the Rockies their home – including moose, deer, mountain goats, elk, and bighorn sheep – are most likely to be seen in the months of May, September and October. Arrive at The Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge, nestled between the lake and the mountains in the heart of Jasper National Park. Meals BLD

4. Jasper National Park 
The striking natural landscapes and carefully protected ecosystems of Jasper National Park are truly a photographer’s paradise – and they are yours to enjoy as you please today with Jasper Your Way, where it’s your choice of an included discovery tour within Jasper National Park. Choices include an ‚”Experience Maligne Valley” tour that offers a guided walk along the Maligne Lake shoreline; a “Wildlife Discovery Tour‚” where you explore with a wildlife interpreter in search of bear, elk, coyote, wolves and more; a whitewater rafting adventure on the Athabasca River led by Rocky Mountain River Guides; and a very popular trip on the Jasper Tramway through the amazing alpine tundra with a visit to town. Optional activities at your lodge (available at additional cost) include trail riding, biking, boating, and golf. You’ll be amazed by your views of the mountains anywhere you go in Jasper National Park, lending an air of tranquility. The town of Jasper is interesting, with its small town atmosphere and chalet-style architecture. Meals BD

5. Ice Explorer on the Columbia Icefield 
Return to Banff National Park, crown jewel of the Rockies, once again along the Icefields Parkway. You’ll enjoy the park’s unspoiled natural beauty from different vantage points today. View mighty Athabasca Falls and the two monumental peaks framing Athabasca Glacier; the famed glacier originates in the Columbia Icefield, whose waters flow into the Atlantic, Pacific and Arctic oceans. It’s a memorable climb up the surface of the glacier aboard a specially designed Ice Explorer vehicle, where you’ll get a good look at the geological features of glaciers as well as learning a bit about their formation. Your vantage point continually changes on the journey. Arrive in Banff National Park for a two-night stay at The Fairmont Banff Springs, styled after a Scottish baronial castle more than a century ago; the resort’s gracious grandeur is reminiscent of bygone days. Meals BLD


6. Banff National Park 
The village of Banff has grown to rival the chic alpine villages of the U.S. Rockies; today is free for you to explore Banff as you please. Tauck includes a Heritage Pass that offers you admission to the Whyte Museum (featuring the art, culture, human and natural history of the Canadian Rockies) as well as the Cave and Basin National Historic Site of Canada (where the original hot springs were discovered by railway workers) and the Banff Park Museum National Historic Site of Canada. Join us tonight for a special farewell wine tasting reception followed by dinner. Meals BD

7. Journey Home
Travel back to Calgary this morning (approximately 80 miles). Tour ends: 10:00 AM at Calgary International Airport. For guests spending additional nights in Calgary, they will be transferred to The Fairmont Palliser upon arrival; a transfer from The Fairmont Palliser to Calgary International Airport is included. Allow two hours for check-in; direct flights to the United States clear U.S. customs in Calgary. Meals B
]]>
  </itinerary>
  <itineraryDetails>
    <itineraryDay day="1">
  <title>Arrive Calgary and on to Kananaskis</title>
  <description>Tour departs: 3:00 PM from Calgary International Airport.  For guests who are spending the previous night in Calgary, an airport transfer from Calgary International Airport to The Fairmont Palliser is included; pick&amp;#45;up time today will be 1:00 PM at The Fairmont Palliser.  Best of the Canadian Rockies begins with a journey from Calgary International Airport that takes you across the last few miles of Canadian prairie to Kananaskis country.  Located in the foothills and front ranges of the Canadian Rocky Mountains, the alpine scenery is a feast for the eyes! You&apos;ll be staying at the Delta Lodge at Kananaskis this evening, where Tauck has secured Signature Club guest rooms offering exclusive concierge services, complimentary high&amp;#45;speed Internet access in the guest rooms, and access to the Signature Club Lounge.  We look forward to seeing you this evening at our welcome cocktail reception and dinner.  Meals D</description>
  <overnight>Delta Lodge at Kananaskis</overnight>
  <meals>Dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="2">
  <title>Emerald Lake and Lake Louise</title>
  <description>See three of the most beautiful lakes in North America today as you journey into the wilderness of the Canadian Rockies.  Travel across the Continental Divide through Kicking Horse Pass to exquisite Emerald Lake, set among soaring mountain peaks in Yoho National Park.  See the famous Spiral Tunnels of the Canadian Pacific Railway and the Natural Bridge, carved through solid rock, before visiting Moraine Lake, conditions permitting; the crystal&amp;#45;clear lake is nestled in the Valley of the Ten Peaks.  Your final destination is Lake Louise, located at the foot of Victoria Glacier &amp;#45; in spring there often is late snow framing the lake with lofty snowbound peaks.  You&apos;ll spend this evening at The Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise, located in the heart of Banff National Park, where your guest room overlooks the beautiful vistas of the lake.  Meals BLD</description>
  <overnight>The Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise, Banff National Park</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="3">
  <title>The Icefields Parkway</title>
  <description>Your morning is at leisure for nature walks to experience some of the most breath&amp;#45;taking scenery in North America.  After lunch, begin the amazing journey along the Icefields Parkway to Jasper National Park.  This stretch of highway is considered by many to be the most spectacular in the Canadian national parks system, commanding a panoramic view of majestic mountains, glaciers, waterfalls, springtime ice&amp;#45;falls and snow&amp;#45;fields.  The animals that make the Rockies their home &amp;#45; including moose, deer, mountain goats, elk, and bighorn sheep &amp;#45; are most likely to be seen in the months of May, September and October.  Arrive at The Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge, nestled between the lake and the mountains in the heart of Jasper National Park.  Meals BLD</description>
  <overnight>The Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge, Jasper National Park</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="4">
  <title>Jasper National Park </title>
  <description>The striking natural landscapes and carefully protected ecosystems of Jasper National Park are truly a photographer&apos;s paradise &amp;#45; and they are yours to enjoy as you please today with Jasper Your Way, where it&apos;s your choice of an included discovery tour within Jasper National Park.  Choices include an ‚”Experience Maligne Valley” tour that offers a guided walk along the Maligne Lake shoreline; a “Wildlife Discovery Tour‚” where you explore with a wildlife interpreter in search of bear, elk, coyote, wolves and more; a whitewater rafting adventure on the Athabasca River led by Rocky Mountain River Guides; and a very popular trip on the Jasper Tramway through the amazing alpine tundra with a visit to town.  Optional activities at your lodge (available at additional cost) include trail riding, biking, boating, and golf.  You&apos;ll be amazed by your views of the mountains anywhere you go in Jasper National Park, lending an air of tranquility.  The town of Jasper is interesting, with its small town atmosphere and chalet&amp;#45;style architecture.  Meals BD</description>
  <overnight>The Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge, Jasper National Park</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="5">
  <title>Ice Explorer on the Columbia Icefield </title>
  <description>Return to Banff National Park, crown jewel of the Rockies, once again along the Icefields Parkway.  You&apos;ll enjoy the park&apos;s unspoiled natural beauty from different vantage points today.  View mighty Athabasca Falls and the two monumental peaks framing Athabasca Glacier; the famed glacier originates in the Columbia Icefield, whose waters flow into the Atlantic, Pacific and Arctic oceans.  It&apos;s a memorable climb up the surface of the glacier aboard a specially designed Ice Explorer vehicle, where you&apos;ll get a good look at the geological features of glaciers as well as learning a bit about their formation.  Your vantage point continually changes on the journey.  Arrive in Banff National Park for a two&amp;#45;night stay at The Fairmont Banff Springs, styled after a Scottish baronial castle more than a century ago; the resort&apos;s gracious grandeur is reminiscent of bygone days.  Meals BLD</description>
  <overnight>The Fairmont Banff Springs, Banff National Park</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="6">
  <title>Banff National Park </title>
  <description>The village of Banff has grown to rival the chic alpine villages of the U.S.  Rockies; today is free for you to explore Banff as you please.  Tauck includes a Heritage Pass that offers you admission to the Whyte Museum (featuring the art, culture, human and natural history of the Canadian Rockies) as well as the Cave and Basin National Historic Site of Canada (where the original hot springs were discovered by railway workers) and the Banff Park Museum National Historic Site of Canada.  Join us tonight for a special farewell wine tasting reception followed by dinner.  Meals BD</description>
  <overnight>The Fairmont Banff Springs, Banff National Park</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="7">
  <title>Journey Home</title>
  <description>Travel back to Calgary this morning (approximately 80 miles). Tour ends: 10:00 AM at Calgary International Airport. For guests spending additional nights in Calgary, they will be transferred to The Fairmont Palliser upon arrival; a transfer from The Fairmont Palliser to Calgary International Airport is included. Allow two hours for check-in; direct flights to the United States clear U.S. customs in Calgary.</description>
  <overnight></overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast</meals>
</itineraryDay>
  </itineraryDetails>
  <highlights>		
Kananaskis ~ Lake Louise ~ Jasper National Park ~ Athabasca Glacier ~ Banff National Park 
</highlights>
  <tauckValues>
    <value order="1">A presentation by a Parks Canada official where youll discover the natural history, legends and lore found within Canadas majestic national parks</value><value order="2">Signature Club guest rooms at the Delta Lodge at Kananaskis with access to the Signature Club Lounge</value><value order="3">Lake-view guest rooms at The Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise, where Lake Louise vistas frame each window</value><value order="4">Jasper Your Way, providing four different ways to explore Jasper National Park   your choice of a Maligne Valley guided tour, a Wildlife Discovery Tour, a whitewater rafting trip on the Athabasca River, or a journey through Jaspers alpine tundra aboard the Jasper Tramway</value><value order="5">An educational  and entertaining  wine tasting at the farewell reception in Banff National Park</value><value order="6">A climb up the surface of a glacier aboard the Ice Explorer where youll learn about their geological features</value><value order="7">Airport transfers upon arrival and departure as detailed</value><value order="8">15 meals, service charges, gratuities to local guides, admission fees, taxes and porterage</value>
  </tauckValues>  
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    <day>28</day>
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    <day>9</day>
    <month>7</month>
    <year>2010</year>
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  <date>
    <day>18</day>
    <month>7</month>
    <year>2010</year>
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    <triplesPrice>3049</triplesPrice>
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  <date>
    <day>30</day>
    <month>7</month>
    <year>2010</year>
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    <doublesPrice>3295</doublesPrice>
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    <day>8</day>
    <month>8</month>
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    <day>22</day>
    <month>8</month>
    <year>2010</year>
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    <triplesPrice>3049</triplesPrice>
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  <date>
    <day>3</day>
    <month>9</month>
    <year>2010</year>
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  <date>
    <day>10</day>
    <month>9</month>
    <year>2010</year>
    <singlesPrice>3949</singlesPrice>
    <doublesPrice>3295</doublesPrice>
    <triplesPrice>3049</triplesPrice>
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  </date>
  <date>
    <day>1</day>
    <month>10</month>
    <year>2010</year>
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    <doublesPrice>2895</doublesPrice>
    <triplesPrice>2649</triplesPrice>
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</tour><tour>
  <sourceId>CA2010</sourceId>
  <title>California&apos;s Gold Coast</title>
  <summary>
    <![CDATA[In Tauck&apos;s California travel to lush Sonoma Valley vineyards, the vast unspoiled beauty of Yosemite National Park, Monterey Bay and Big Sur, Hearst Castle, and the remarkable cities of San Francisco, Los Angeles and San Diego.
]]>
  </summary>
  <description>
    <![CDATA[Tauck&apos;s California travel adventure discovers the many treasures that lie along the Gold Coast, from San Francisco to Yosemite to the Pacific Coast Highway. Explore San Francisco, Los Angeles, and San Diego; visit the Monterey Bay Aquarium and Hearst Castle. Enjoy unique Tauck experiences like a privately guided walk with a naturalist in Yosemite; a winery tour at a Sonoma Valley vineyard; a private tour of the San Diego Zoo; and a farewell dinner cruise on San Diego Bay. New for 2010, your journey features stays at The Westin St. Francis in San Francisco, InterContinental the Clement Monterey, and The Langham Huntington in Pasadena.
]]>
  </description>
  <link>http://www.tauck.com/tours/usa-tours/western-usa-travel/california-tour-ca-2010</link>
  <durationDays>11</durationDays>
  <durationDetails>11 days and 10 nights.</durationDetails>
  <tripType>ESCORTED_TOUR</tripType>
  <brand>TWD</brand>
  <subbrand>USA and Canada</subbrand>
  <gradeRating>ALL_AGES</gradeRating>
  <comfortRating>COMFORTABLE_MIXED</comfortRating>
  <startingLocation>San Francisco, California</startingLocation>
  <prices>
    <price currency="USD">3690</price>
    <priceDetails><![CDATA[All prices are per person in U.S. dollars. ]]></priceDetails>
  </prices>
  <images>
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  </images>
  <itinerary>
    <![CDATA[1. Arrive San Francisco
Tour begins: 5:30 PM at The Westin St. Francis. A transfer is included from San Francisco International Airport to The Westin St. Francis. Join us tonight for a welcome cocktail reception and dinner at your hotel, a beloved San Francisco landmark that has kept watch over Union Square in the city’s heart since 1904. Meals D

2. City Tour / Wine Country
Nob Hill... Chinatown... Fisherman’s Wharf... Lombard Street... see these celebrated San Francisco destinations and more on a city tour. Then cross the majestic Golden Gate Bridge and head north to the Sonoma Valley, home to some of the world’s finest vineyards. After a tour, tasting and picnic lunch at the Viansa Winery, return to San Francisco to explore as you please. Meals BL

3. Gold Country / The Yosemite Valley
Venture through Gold Rush country and into the Sierra Nevada – then look around in awe as you arrive at the valley that so inspired conservationist John Muir... and led to the creation of Yosemite National Park. Spend two nights amidst soaring cathedral ceilings and massive stone fireplaces at The Ahwahnee, a National Historic Landmark in the heart of the park. Dine à la carte in the award-winning Ahwahnee Dining Room with its floor-to-ceiling windows. Meals BLD

4. Yosemite National Park
With names like Bridalveil Falls, Half Dome, El Capitan and Cathedral Spires, Yosemite’s legendary wonders are yours to behold on a day of discovery that begins with Tauck’s private two-hour walking tour with a local naturalist, and continues with the rest of the day free to explore the park’s magnificent waterfalls, glacier-hewn gorges, granite peaks and remarkable wildlife as you please. Enjoy dinner on your own tonight, surrounded by The Ahwahnee’s imposing stonework and intriguing Native American art. Meals B

5. Across Lush Valleys to Monterey 
After a visit to the Mariposa Museum and History Center, traverse the farmland of the San Joaquin Valley – dubbed “America’s Salad Bowl” – to sleepy Merced. Then it’s on to the Pacific Coast and Carmel-by-the-Sea, a lovely coastal village with a longstanding reputation as an artists’ colony. Spend some time browsing the art galleries and boutiques before arriving in Monterey for a two-night stay. Dine this evening at one of Monterey’s fine restaurants. Meals BLD

6. Monterey Bay Aquarium / 17-Mile Drive
Awaken at the new InterContinental the Clement Monterey, close to your next destination – the famous Monterey Bay Aquarium, showcasing some 200 exhibits on marine life and one of the most respected aquariums in the world. Tour the Monterey Bay Peninsula, an enclave of impressive homes and lovely beaches; travel the 17-Mile Drive through Del Monte Forest to Cypress Point and the famed Pebble Beach golf course. The rest of the day is free in Monterey. Meals B

7. Big Sur and Hearst Castle
Redwoods and elephant seals are just a few of the sights that await you along one of the most beautiful drives in the nation today – on Scenic Pacific Coast Highway 1, passing the rugged Big Sur coastline as it weaves its way southward along the ocean. Marvel at elaborately carved ceilings and other adornments on a walking tour of Hearst Castle at San Simeon, the grandiose estate of publishing magnate William Randolph Hearst – who referred to the 165-room Spanish-Moorish mansion as ”the ranch,” and tinkered with it so much during the 27 years he resided there that it was never completed in his lifetime! Arrive at The Cliffs Resort, overlooking the Pacific on Shell Beach. Meals BLD

8. Santa Barbara / Los Angeles
Silhouetted against the Santa Ynez Mountains, seaside Santa Barbara is your next stop along the ”Gold Coast.” See the Mediterranean architecture of the old courthouse, with free time to explore the city. Continue on to glamorous Los Angeles, America’s second-largest city and entertainment capital. Visit the J. Paul Getty Museum in Los Angeles’ Getty Center, featuring an extensive collection of pre-20th-century European art and sculpture, antiquities, and photographs by many of the world’s famous artists. Evoking the grandeur of a century ago, your landmark Pasadena hotel – The Langham Huntington, Pasadena, Los Angeles – is a retreat from the bustle of the city, long favored by celebrities. Meals BD

9. Hollywood / Capistrano / San Diego
It‚’s  “Hooray for Hollywood” as you explore the historic movie capital, including Beverly Hills, Rodeo Drive, Sunset Strip and Grauman’s Chinese Theater. Head south to San Juan Capistrano, the mission town famous for the swallows that arrive each March; spend some free time before winding your way along the breathtaking Pacific Coast to San Diego. Your home for the next two nights enjoys a prestigious waterfront location on Mission Island, boasting panoramic views of both San Diego Bay and the San Diego city skyline. Meals BD

10. Inside the San Diego Zoo 
Home to more than 4,000 animals representing over 800 species, the San Diego Zoo at Balboa Park is the largest zoo in the world. Tauck takes you on a private insider’s tour of this acclaimed international wildlife experience today, boasting some of earth’s rarest animals and considered one of the most progressive institutions of its kind. Enjoy some great panda-watching opportunities, and watch river hippos and polar bears cavort underwater as you take a close-up look at wildlife from all over the world in exhibits that replicate their natural habitats. Following your memorable zoo visit, your afternoon is free; a quest to discover San Diego’s historical and cultural attractions might include exploration of lively Old Town, or perhaps a visit to Seaport Village or the USS Midway Museum. We invite you to join us this evening for a special farewell cocktail reception and exclusive dinner cruise on the shimmering waters of San Diego Bay. Meals BD

11. Journey Home
Tour ends: San Diego. Fly home anytime. A transfer to San Diego International Airport is included from Sheraton San Diego Hotel &amp; Marina; checkout time is 12:00 PM. You should allow a minimum of two hours at the airport for your flight check-in. Meals B

]]>
  </itinerary>
  <itineraryDetails>
    <itineraryDay day="1">
  <title>Arrive San Francisco</title>
  <description>Tour begins: 5:30 PM at The Westin St. Francis. A transfer is included from San Francisco International Airport to The Westin St. Francis. Join us tonight for a welcome cocktail reception and dinner at your hotel, a beloved San Francisco landmark that has kept watch over Union Square in the city’s heart since 1904.</description>
  <overnight>The Westin St. Francis, San Francisco, CA</overnight>
  <meals>Dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="2">
  <title>City Tour / Wine Country</title>
  <description>Nob Hill... Chinatown... Fisherman’s Wharf... Lombard Street... see these celebrated San Francisco destinations and more on a city tour. Then cross the majestic Golden Gate Bridge and head north to the Sonoma Valley, home to some of the world’s finest vineyards. After a tour, tasting and picnic lunch at the Viansa Winery, return to San Francisco to explore as you please.</description>
  <overnight>The Westin St. Francis, San Francisco, CA</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="3">
  <title>Gold Country / The Yosemite Valley</title>
  <description>Venture through Gold Rush country and into the Sierra Nevada – then look around in awe as you arrive at the valley that so inspired conservationist John Muir... and led to the creation of Yosemite National Park. Spend two nights amidst soaring cathedral ceilings and massive stone fireplaces at The Ahwahnee, a National Historic Landmark in the heart of the park. Dine à la carte in the award-winning Ahwahnee Dining Room with its floor-to-ceiling windows.</description>
  <overnight>The Ahwahnee, Yosemite National Park, CA</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="4">
  <title>Yosemite National Park</title>
  <description>With names like Bridalveil Falls, Half Dome, El Capitan and Cathedral Spires, Yosemite’s legendary wonders are yours to behold on a day of discovery that begins with Tauck’s private two-hour walking tour with a local naturalist, and continues with the rest of the day free to explore the park’s magnificent waterfalls, glacier-hewn gorges, granite peaks and remarkable wildlife as you please. Enjoy dinner on your own tonight, surrounded by The Ahwahnee’s imposing stonework and intriguing Native American art.</description>
  <overnight>The Ahwahnee, Yosemite National Park, CA</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="5">
  <title>Across Lush Valleys to Monterey</title>
  <description>After a visit to the Mariposa Museum and History Center, traverse the farmland of the San Joaquin Valley – dubbed “America’s Salad Bowl” – to sleepy Merced. Then it’s on to the Pacific Coast and Carmel-by-the-Sea, a lovely coastal village with a longstanding reputation as an artists’ colony. Spend some time browsing the art galleries and boutiques before arriving in Monterey for a two-night stay. Dine this evening at one of Monterey’s fine restaurants.</description>
  <overnight>InterContinental The Clement Monterey, CA</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="6">
  <title>Monterey Bay Aquarium / 17-Mile Drive</title>
  <description>Awaken at the new InterContinental the Clement Monterey, close to your next destination – the famous Monterey Bay Aquarium, showcasing some 200 exhibits on marine life and one of the most respected aquariums in the world. Tour the Monterey Bay Peninsula, an enclave of impressive homes and lovely beaches; travel the 17-Mile Drive through Del Monte Forest to Cypress Point and the famed Pebble Beach golf course. The rest of the day is free in Monterey.</description>
  <overnight>InterContinental The Clement Monterey, CA</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="7">
  <title>Big Sur and Hearst Castle</title>
  <description>Redwoods and elephant seals are just a few of the sights that await you along one of the most beautiful drives in the nation today – on Scenic Pacific Coast Highway 1, passing the rugged Big Sur coastline as it weaves its way southward along the ocean. Marvel at elaborately carved ceilings and other adornments on a walking tour of Hearst Castle at San Simeon, the grandiose estate of publishing magnate William Randolph Hearst – who referred to the 165-room Spanish-Moorish mansion as ”the ranch,” and tinkered with it so much during the 27 years he resided there that it was never completed in his lifetime! Arrive at The Cliffs Resort, overlooking the Pacific on Shell Beach.</description>
  <overnight>The Cliffs Resort, Shell Beach, CA</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="8">
  <title>Santa Barbara / Los Angeles</title>
  <description>Silhouetted against the Santa Ynez Mountains, seaside Santa Barbara is your next stop along the ”Gold Coast.” See the Mediterranean architecture of the old courthouse, with free time to explore the city. Continue on to glamorous Los Angeles, America’s second-largest city and entertainment capital. Visit the J. Paul Getty Museum in Los Angeles’ Getty Center, featuring an extensive collection of pre-20th-century European art and sculpture, antiquities, and photographs by many of the world’s famous artists. Evoking the grandeur of a century ago, your landmark Pasadena hotel – The Langham Huntington, Pasadena, Los Angeles – is a retreat from the bustle of the city, long favored by celebrities.</description>
  <overnight>The Langham Huntington, Pasadena / Los Angeles, Pasadena, CA</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="9">
  <title>Hollywood / Capistrano / San Diego</title>
  <description>It’s&amp;nbsp; “Hooray for Hollywood” as you explore the historic movie capital, including Beverly Hills, Rodeo Drive, Sunset Strip and Grauman’s Chinese Theater. Head south to San Juan Capistrano, the mission town famous for the swallows that arrive each March; spend some free time before winding your way along the breathtaking Pacific Coast to San Diego. Your home for the next two nights enjoys a prestigious waterfront location on Mission Island, boasting panoramic views of both San Diego Bay and the San Diego city skyline.</description>
  <overnight>Sheraton San Diego Hotel &amp; Marina, San Diego, CA</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="10">
  <title>Inside the San Diego Zoo</title>
  <description>Home to more than 4,000 animals representing over 800 species, the San Diego Zoo at Balboa Park is the largest zoo in the world. Tauck takes you on a private insider’s tour of this acclaimed international wildlife experience today, boasting some of earth’s rarest animals and considered one of the most progressive institutions of its kind. Enjoy some great panda-watching opportunities, and watch river hippos and polar bears cavort underwater as you take a close-up look at wildlife from all over the world in exhibits that replicate their natural habitats. Following your memorable zoo visit, your afternoon is free; a quest to discover San Diego’s historical and cultural attractions might include exploration of lively Old Town, or perhaps a visit to Seaport Village or the USS Midway Museum. We invite you to join us this evening for a special farewell cocktail reception and exclusive dinner cruise on the shimmering waters of San Diego Bay.</description>
  <overnight>Sheraton San Diego Hotel &amp; Marina, San Diego, CA</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="11">
  <title>Journey Home</title>
  <description>Tour ends: San Diego. Fly home anytime. A transfer to San Diego International Airport is included from Sheraton San Diego Hotel &amp;amp; Marina; checkout time is 12:00 PM. You should allow a minimum of two hours at the airport for your flight check-in.</description>
  <overnight></overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast</meals>
</itineraryDay>
  </itineraryDetails>
  <highlights>
		
				Yosemite National Park ~ San Francisco ~ Sonoma Valley ~ Monterey ~ Santa Barbara ~ Los Angeles ~ San Diego 
</highlights>
  <tauckValues>
    <value order="1">A private insiders tour of one of the worlds most famous zoos, the San Diego Zoo; it is the worlds largest zoo, home to more than 4,000 animals</value><value order="2">A privately guided walk with a naturalist in Yosemite National Park, providing insights into wildlife, geology and man-made history</value><value order="3">An unforgettable dinner cruise on San Diego Bay, home to some of Americas most historic ships, where youll relax while dining on gourmet cuisine</value><value order="4">A walking tour of Hearst Castle at San Simeon, grand estate of publisher William Randolph Hearst</value><value order="5">Visit to L.As J. Paul Getty Museum</value><value order="6">A winery tour and tasting at a Sonoma Valley vineyard</value><value order="7">Airport transfers upon arrival and departure as detailed</value><value order="8">21 meals, service charges, gratuities to local guides, admission fees, taxes and porterage</value>
  </tauckValues>  
  <departureDates>
    <date>
    <day>4</day>
    <month>6</month>
    <year>2010</year>
    <singlesPrice>4920</singlesPrice>
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    <month>8</month>
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    <month>10</month>
    <year>2010</year>
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</tour><tour>
  <sourceId>CC2010</sourceId>
  <title>Cape Cod, The Islands and Newport</title>
  <summary>
    <![CDATA[
		Experience epochs of American history from the days of the Pilgrims to Nantucket&apos;s whaling heyday and Newport in the &quot;Gilded Age&quot; on this fascinating New England vacation; includes a visit to The Breakers and a whale-watching cruise off Provincetown.
]]>
  </summary>
  <description>
    <![CDATA[Step back in time on this memorable New England vacation, exploring centuries of history on Nantucket, Martha’s Vineyard, Cape Cod and in Newport. Relive 17th-century life at Plimouth Plantation; visit the homesteads of two U.S. presidents and the largest whaling museum in America. Special experiences include a scenic flight from Martha&apos;s Vineyard to Nantucket... a whale-watching cruise off the shores of Provincetown... a sightseeing cruise of Newport Harbor and Narragansett Bay... and a tour of The Breakers, one of Newport’s most extravagant Gilded Age mansions.
]]>
  </description>
  <link>http://www.tauck.com/tours/usa-tours/new-england-travel/new-england-vacation-cc-2010</link>
  <durationDays>8</durationDays>
  <durationDetails>8 days and 7 nights.</durationDetails>
  <tripType>ESCORTED_TOUR</tripType>
  <brand>TWD</brand>
  <subbrand>USA and Canada</subbrand>
  <gradeRating>ALL_AGES</gradeRating>
  <comfortRating>COMFORTABLE_MIXED</comfortRating>
  <startingLocation>Boston, Massachusetts</startingLocation>
  <prices>
    <price currency="USD">2590</price>
    <priceDetails><![CDATA[All prices are per person in U.S. dollars. ]]></priceDetails>
  </prices>
  <images>
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  <itinerary>
    <![CDATA[1. Arrive Boston
Tour begins: 6:30 PM at the Boston Park Plaza Hotel &amp; Towers. A transfer is included from Logan Int’l Airport to the Boston Park Plaza Hotel &amp; Towers, ideally located in the heart of the picturesque Back Bay neighborhood. Join us tonight for a welcome reception and dinner. Meals D

2. Plimoth Plantation / Martha’s Vineyard
Plymouth, where the pilgrims first established a settlement in 1620, is a fitting first stop on your journey. Visit Plimoth Plantation, a restoration depicting the times, lifestyles, and crafts of 17th-century Plymouth, and see the famed Plymouth Rock. Head south for some free time in Falmouth, and board a ferry bound for Martha’s Vineyard. Your accommodations for the next two nights are in Edgartown, once one of the most important whaling centers in New England. Meals BD

3. Exploring the Vineyard
A haven for summer visitors, much of this storied island remains exactly as it was when the first Europeans arrived in the early 17th century. Sightseeing includes the towns of Oak Bluffs, Vineyard Haven, West Tisbury and Aquinnah (formerly Gay Head); the island is endowed with salt sea marshes, sweeping beaches, idyllic yacht harbors, and narrow streets lined with stately homes. Meals B

4. Nantucket / Cape Cod
Depart Edgartown for a 15-minute flight to lovely Nantucket Island, where over 300 years of art, architecture and legend reflect the long-past whaling era. Take a sightseeing journey around the island before returning to the Cape Cod mainland. Arrive at your seaside resort in Brewster, designed around an 1890 mansion overlooking Cape Cod Bay.   Meals BD

5. Provincetown / Whale Watch
A drive along one of the Cape’s most scenic and remote stretches leads to charming Provincetown; visit Cape Cod National Seashore, learn about the area’s flora and fauna, and explore the village. Take a guided whale-watching cruise to view these fascinating mammals in their natural habitat, weather permitting. Return to the resort for dinner. Meals BD

6. New Bedford / Newport
More historic whaling-era lore awaits on a visit to the New Bedford Whaling Museum. Continue on to Newport, Rhode Island, and explore the Ten-Mile Drive, blanketed with lavish 19th-century estates. Your waterfront hotel enjoys an ideal location on celebrated Newport Harbor. Meals BL

7. Centuries of History in Newport
If you wish, join your Tauck Director for a morning stroll along the oceanfront Cliff Walk, combining the natural beauty of Newport’s shoreline with the architectural history of the Gilded Age. A guided tour of The Breakers reveals the opulence of Newport’s most palatial estate; this magnificent mansion was the seaside summer home of Cornelius Vanderbilt. Following a delightful cruise of Newport Harbor and Narragansett Bay, the afternoon is yours to explore Newport at leisure. Say farewell to your fellow travelers at a cocktail reception and dinner this evening. Meals BD

8. Quincy / Journey Home
Return to Boston via the Adams National Historical Park, where the story of five generations of the Adams family is told. Tour ends: 12:30 PM at Logan International Airport, Boston or 1:30 PM at the Boston Park Plaza Hotel &amp; Towers, traffic permitting. Airport transfers are included; allow two hours for flight check-in. Meals B
]]>
  </itinerary>
  <itineraryDetails>
    <itineraryDay day="1">
  <title>Arrive Boston</title>
  <description>Tour begins: 6:30 PM at the Boston Park Plaza Hotel &amp; Towers.  A transfer is included from Logan Int&apos;l Airport to the Boston Park Plaza Hotel &amp; Towers, ideally located in the heart of the picturesque Back Bay neighborhood.  Join us tonight for a welcome reception and dinner.  Meals D</description>
  <overnight>Boston Park Plaza Hotel &amp; Towers, Boston, MA</overnight>
  <meals>Dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="2">
  <title>Plimoth Plantation / Martha&apos;s Vineyard</title>
  <description>Plymouth, where the pilgrims first established a settlement in 1620, is a fitting first stop on your journey.  Visit Plimoth Plantation, a restoration depicting the times, lifestyles, and crafts of 17th&amp;#45;century Plymouth, and see the famed Plymouth Rock.  Head south for some free time in Falmouth, and board a ferry bound for Martha&apos;s Vineyard.  Your accommodations for the next two nights are in Edgartown, once one of the most important whaling centers in New England.  Meals BD</description>
  <overnight>Harbor View Hotel &amp; Resort, Edgartown, MA</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="3">
  <title>Exploring the Vineyard</title>
  <description>A haven for summer visitors, much of this storied island remains exactly as it was when the first Europeans arrived in the early 17th century.  Sightseeing includes the towns of Oak Bluffs, Vineyard Haven, West Tisbury and Aquinnah (formerly Gay Head); the island is endowed with salt sea marshes, sweeping beaches, idyllic yacht harbors, and narrow streets lined with stately homes.  Meals B</description>
  <overnight>Harbor View Hotel &amp; Resort, Edgartown, MA</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="4">
  <title>Nantucket / Cape Cod</title>
  <description>Depart Edgartown for a 15&amp;#45;minute flight to lovely Nantucket Island, where over 300 years of art, architecture and legend reflect the long&amp;#45;past whaling era.  Take a sightseeing journey around the island before returning to the Cape Cod mainland.  Arrive at your seaside resort in Brewster, designed around an 1890 mansion overlooking Cape Cod Bay.   Meals BD</description>
  <overnight>Ocean Edge Resort &amp; Golf Club, Brewster, MA</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="5">
  <title>Provincetown / Whale Watch</title>
  <description>A drive along one of the Cape&apos;s most scenic and remote stretches leads to charming Provincetown; visit Cape Cod National Seashore, learn about the area&apos;s flora and fauna, and explore the village.  Take a guided whale&amp;#45;watching cruise to view these fascinating mammals in their natural habitat, weather permitting.  Return to the resort for dinner.  Meals BD</description>
  <overnight>Ocean Edge Resort &amp; Golf Club, Brewster, MA</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="6">
  <title>New Bedford / Newport</title>
  <description>More historic whaling&amp;#45;era lore awaits on a visit to the New Bedford Whaling Museum.  Continue on to Newport, Rhode Island, and explore the Ten&amp;#45;Mile Drive, blanketed with lavish 19th&amp;#45;century estates.  Your waterfront hotel enjoys an ideal location on celebrated Newport Harbor.  Meals BL</description>
  <overnight>The Newport Marriott, Newport, RI</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="7">
  <title>Centuries of History in Newport</title>
  <description>If you wish, join your Tauck Director for a morning stroll along the oceanfront Cliff Walk, combining the natural beauty of Newport&apos;s shoreline with the architectural history of the Gilded Age.  A guided tour of The Breakers reveals the opulence of Newport&apos;s most palatial estate; this magnificent mansion was the seaside summer home of Cornelius Vanderbilt.  Following a delightful cruise of Newport Harbor and Narragansett Bay, the afternoon is yours to explore Newport at leisure.  Say farewell to your fellow travelers at a cocktail reception and dinner this evening.  Meals BD</description>
  <overnight>The Newport Marriott, Newport, RI</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="8">
  <title>Quincy / Journey Home</title>
  <description>Return to Boston via the Adams National Historical Park, where the story of five generations of the Adams family is told. Tour ends: 12:30 PM at Logan International Airport, Boston or 1:30 PM at the Boston Park Plaza Hotel &amp;amp; Towers, traffic permitting. Airport transfers are included; allow two hours for flight check-in.</description>
  <overnight></overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast</meals>
</itineraryDay>
  </itineraryDetails>
  <highlights>
		
				Martha’s Vineyard ~ Hyannis ~ Nantucket ~ Chatham ~ New Bedford ~ Provincetown ~ Quincy ~ Plymouth 
</highlights>
  <tauckValues>
    <value order="1">Scenic flight from Marthas Vineyard to Nantucket</value><value order="2">Whale-watching cruise off the waters of Provincetown, home to New Englands largest whale population</value><value order="3">Two-night stay in Marthas Vineyard at the historic Harbor View Hotel &amp; Resort, overlooking Edgartown Lighthouse, Edgartown Harbor and Chappaquiddick Island</value><value order="4">Visit to The Breakers, one of the most palatial estates in Newport and the former summer seaside cottage of Cornelius Vanderbilt</value><value order="5">Sightseeing cruise of Newport Harbor and Narragansett Bay</value><value order="6">Airport transfers upon arrival and departure as noted</value><value order="7">13 meals  with included  la carte dinners  service charges, gratuities to local guides, admission fees, taxes and porterage</value>
  </tauckValues>  
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    <day>7</day>
    <month>8</month>
    <year>2010</year>
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    <month>9</month>
    <year>2010</year>
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    <year>2010</year>
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    <day>30</day>
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    <doublesPrice>2590</doublesPrice>
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</tour><tour>
  <sourceId>CEE2010</sourceId>
  <title>China, the Yangtze River &amp; Hong Kong</title>
  <summary>
    <![CDATA[Tauck&apos;s ultimate China travel adventure includes ancient cities and tranquil country villages, a spellbinding 3-night cruise Yangtze River cruise aboard the Yangzi Explorer, and a host of new-for-2010 discoveries from Beijing&apos;s hutongs to a ride on the world&apos;s fastest train in Shanghai.
]]>
  </summary>
  <description>
    <![CDATA[Imagine a China travel adventure that takes you behind the scenes at ancient treasures, exotic gardens, architectural masterpieces and compelling UNESCO World Heritage Sites like the Forbidden City, the Great Wall and the Terra Cotta Warriors... includes a memorable cruise through the Yangtze River&apos;s Three Gorges aboard the Yangzi Explorer...  and is filled with new-for-2010 experiences ranging from an insider visit to Beijing&apos;s hutongs to an introduction to Shanghai from a private VIP viewing terrace! Experience China travel by trishaw in Old Beijing, by sampan in Aberdeen Harbour, via funicular up Victoria Peak, on foot along the Great Wall, and aboard the world&apos;s fastest train, the Maglev, in Shanghai. Meet a Tang Dynasty expert in Shaanxi, the conservation director for the Terra Cotta Warriors museum in Xi&apos;an, and school children at a Three Gorges Dam relocation village along the Yangtze. There&apos;s no end to the enriching discoveries you&apos;ll make on Tauck&apos;s comprehensive China travel experience!

Note: The Yangzi Explorer cruise runs both east from Chongqing and west from Yichang. The itinerary detailed below includes the eastbound (downstream) cruise from Chongqing to Yichang on nights 8 – 10.  The tour including the westbound cruise features the same hotels and sightseeing, with a slightly different itinerary due to the upstream cruise from Yichang to Chongqing. 
]]>
  </description>
  <link>http://www.tauck.com/tours/asia-travel/china-travel-cee-2010</link>
  <durationDays>16</durationDays>
  <durationDetails>16 days and 15 nights.</durationDetails>
  <tripType>ESCORTED_TOUR</tripType>
  <brand>TWD</brand>
  <subbrand>Exotics</subbrand>
  <gradeRating>ALL_AGES</gradeRating>
  <comfortRating>COMFORTABLE_MIXED</comfortRating>
  <startingLocation>Beijing, China</startingLocation>
  <prices>
    <price currency="USD">4590</price>
    <priceDetails><![CDATA[All prices are per person in U.S. dollars. ]]></priceDetails>
  </prices>
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    <image>http://tools.tauck.com/Files/ItineraryImages/altImages/CEE2010_alt2.jpg</image>
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  <itinerary>
    <![CDATA[•  = Cruise day

Flying to China 

Flying time to Beijing averages about 12 hours from gateway cities on the U.S. West Coast, and roughly 13-14 hours from the East Coast or Midwest; Beijing time is 12 hours ahead of the United States’ Eastern Standard Time. To ease the effects of jet lag, please consider traveling to China a day early. Tauck can book your international flights for travel originating in the U.S., and arrange an extra night at The Peninsula Beijing for the evening before your journey begins, giving you time to rest and relax. Ask at booking.

1. Arrive in Beijing
Tour begins: The Peninsula Beijing. Transfers are included from Beijing Capital Int’l Airport to The Peninsula Beijing, where you’ll enjoy a four-night stay – and a taste of Peking Duck at a welcome reception followed by dinner. Meals D

2. History &amp; the Hutongs in Beijing
A delicate balance between Beijing’s past and future surrounds you as you explore the Beijing of the present – starting at Tiananmen Square, site of the mausoleum of Mao Zedong, whose enormous portrait hangs on a high wall above the “Gate of Heavenly Peace.” Beyond it lies the Forbidden City, once home to China’s emperors; your tour includes the Hall of Supreme Harmony and the Imperial Garden. Nowhere is the conflict between progress and preservation more evident than among Beijing’s hutongs – traditional courtyard neighborhoods disappearing in the wake of new building projects. The director of the Beijing Cultural Heritage Protection Center shares a multimedia presentation and accompanies you on a private tour of one of these unique enclaves. Meals BLD

3. The Great Wall / Olympic Village
China’s Great Wall is a truly astounding achievement. At the wall’s Badaling section, take a gondola ride up to the highest point, then walk down an ancient stone path to the bottom. After lunch at The Commune by the Great Wall with vistas of the wall stretching out around you, visit Beijing’s Olympic Village and two iconic venues of the 2008 Olympic Games – Beijing National Stadium (the “Bird’s Nest”) and the National Aquatics Center or “Water Cube,” site of U.S. swimmer Michael Phelps’ eight gold medal victories. Meals BL

4. Temple of Heaven / Summer Palace 
In China’s Imperial days, the emperor traveled in secret processions from the Forbidden City to the Temple of Heaven. Visit this supreme example of traditional Chinese architecture and take part in a Tai Chi racquet exercise, where local residents teach you their moves! Tour the Summer Palace and cruise Kunming Lake in a dragon boat, prior to an à la carte dinner in select Legation Quarter restaurants. Meals BD

5. Fly to Xi’an
Spend a morning at leisure in Beijing before flying to Xi’an for a two-night stay in Horizon Club-level rooms at the Golden Flower Hotel by Shangri-La, Xian. Meals BD 

6. Tea Lesson / Terra Cotta Warriors
Get an insider’s view of the Terra Cotta Warriors today – 8,000 life-like statues of ancient soldiers who have guarded their emperor’s underground tomb for 2,000 years. At the site’s museum, attend a tea demonstration and tasting, see the statues and hear about future plans from the museum’s conservation director. You’ll also visit Little Wild Goose Pagoda. Meals BLD

7. Shaanxi Museum / Fly to Guilin
A Tang Dynasty expert offers you a glimpse of life in ancient China at the Shaanxi History Museum, whose collection of 370,000 artifacts represents the feudal dynasties that built their capitals here. Fly to Guilin this afternoon. Meals BLD

• 8. Li River / Chongqing / Embark Cruise
Tauck’s private cruise on the Li River is a treat for the eyes and the soul. Fly to Chongqing, where you’ll board the Yangzi Explorer; enjoy an à la carte shipboard dinner before setting off on a three-night Yangtze River cruise. Meals BLD

• 9. Yangzi Explorer / Relocation Village
Your first full day cruising the Yangtze on Yangzi Explorer includes shore excursions to Fengdu and a “relocation village” for locals affected by the construction of the Three Gorges Dam. Meet the ship’s Captain tonight. Meals BLD

• 10. Cruising the Three Gorges 
After passing through Wu Gorge, take a shore excursion to Shennong Stream. Aboard ship, there’s live entertainment, a lecture by an on-board Sinologist and other activities. Make your way through Xiling Gorge tonight. Meals BLD

11. Three Gorges Dam / Fly to Shanghai
Yangzi Explorer sails to Yichang through locks adjacent to the new Three Gorges Dam. Your private visit to this engineering marvel includes access to the Map Room. Disembark and fly to Shanghai for a three-night stay. Meals BLD

12. Shanghai Past &amp; Present / ERA Show
Get a private introduction to Shanghai from the VIP viewing terrace of the Urban Planning Center; view models of the city and a 360-degree film. Tour the splendid Shanghai Museum; discover the city’s disappearing shikumen (traditional stone-gated homes) preserved in the Xintiandi neighborhood; and attend a daring ERA acrobatic performance tonight. Meals B

13. Bund / Yu Gardens / Maglev Train
Visit Shanghai’s famous Bund, its sightseeing tunnel, and harmonious Yu Gardens. Ride the Maglev Train; at 268 mph, it’s the fastest in the world! Meet Shanghai children who sing and dance for you at the Children’s Palace, and join us for a farewell reception in the rooftop lounge of The Peninsula Shanghai, followed by dinner. Meals BLD

14. Fly to Hong Kong / Victoria Peak
Fly from Shanghai, arriving in Hong Kong for lunch at a local dim sum restaurant. Get to know the city on a funicular tram ride up to Victoria Peak offering panoramic views, and with a close-up look at life among the boat people of Aberdeen Harbour from aboard a traditional sampan. 14-Day Tour Ends: Shanghai. Guests choosing a shorter, 14-day experience have the option to depart the tour after breakfast in Shanghai. A transfer is provided from The Peninsula Shanghai to Shanghai Pudong International Airport. Meals BL

15. History Museum / Kowloon at Leisure
View exhibits interpreting Hong Kong’s archaeological, cultural, and natural history at the renowned Hong Kong Museum of History. Then spend time on your own, perhaps exploring the shopping mecca of Kowloon. Meals BD

16. Journey Home
Tour ends: Hong Kong, China. A transfer is included from the Kowloon Shangri-La to Hong Kong Int’l Airport. Allow 21/2 hours for flight check-in at the airport. Meals B

The Yangzi Explorer cruise runs both east from Chongqing and west from Yichang. The tour itinerary here features the eastbound (downstream) cruise. Westbound tour features the same hotels and sightseeing with a slightly different itinerary due to the westbound (upstream) cruise. Visit www.tauck.com for specific dates and itinerary details.


Cruise Aboard Yangzi Explorer

Our three-night cruise aboard the Yangzi Explorer takes you through the scenic heart of the Yangtze River, the Three Gorges. A visual feast of ancient whitewashed villages, steep gorges, and terraced mountains combines with included shore excursions and a private visit to the new Three Gorges Dam. This memorable cruise will be a tour highlight! 

Yangzi Explorer is the newest and roomiest ship on the Yangtze River following a full renovation completed in 2008; she is the only internationally managed five-star cruise ship sailing the Yangtze. Carrying no more than 124 guests with a crew of 130, Yangzi Explorer boasts the highest ship staff-to-guest ratio on the river. Her staterooms set a new standard in spaciousness and elegance; all feature a mini bar, bathrobes and slippers, telephone, private safety box, television, hair dryer, and a private balcony to gaze at the passing Yangtze River landscapes. 

Offering all the amenities one would expect at a five-star hotel, the Yangzi Explorer features a fitness center; a multi-language library; spa facilities offering beauty treatments and massages; on-board entertainment, including a theater, lounge and espresso bar; and informative lectures provided by an on-board Sinologist. International buffets are offered for breakfast and lunch, while dinner tempts with a variety of international and Chinese specialties; wine and beer are included with meals. 

Supporting Preservation of the Hutongs

To help support the preservation of a vanishing aspect of Beijing culture – the hutongs, narrow alleys of traditional courtyard residences that have been an important part of the city’s life for more than 500 years, but are now rapidly disappearing – Tauck partners with the Beijing Cultural Heritage Protection Center, whose staff accompanies our guests on visits to these unique neighborhoods on every departure of China, The Yangtze River &amp; Hong Kong.

]]>
  </itinerary>
  <itineraryDetails>
    <itineraryDay day="1">
  <title>Arrive in Beijing</title>
  <description>Tour begins: The Peninsula Beijing.  Transfers are included from Beijing Capital Int&apos;l Airport to The Peninsula Beijing, where you&apos;ll enjoy a four&amp;#45;night stay &amp;#45; and a taste of Peking Duck at a welcome reception followed by dinner.  Meals D</description>
  <overnight>The Peninsula Beijing, China</overnight>
  <meals>Dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="2">
  <title>History &amp; the Hutongs in Beijing</title>
  <description>A delicate balance between Beijing&apos;s past and future surrounds you as you explore the Beijing of the present &amp;#45; starting at Tiananmen Square, site of the mausoleum of Mao Zedong, whose enormous portrait hangs on a high wall above the “Gate of Heavenly Peace.” Beyond it lies the Forbidden City, once home to China&apos;s emperors; your tour includes the Hall of Supreme Harmony and the Imperial Garden.  Nowhere is the conflict between progress and preservation more evident than among Beijing&apos;s hutongs &amp;#45; traditional courtyard neighborhoods disappearing in the wake of new building projects.  The director of the Beijing Cultural Heritage Protection Center shares a multimedia presentation and accompanies you on a private tour of one of these unique enclaves.  Meals BLD</description>
  <overnight>The Peninsula Beijing, China</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="3">
  <title>The Great Wall / Olympic Village</title>
  <description>China&apos;s Great Wall is a truly astounding achievement.  At the wall&apos;s Badaling section, take a gondola ride up to the highest point, then walk down an ancient stone path to the bottom.  After lunch at The Commune by the Great Wall with vistas of the wall stretching out around you, visit Beijing&apos;s Olympic Village and two iconic venues of the 2008 Olympic Games &amp;#45; Beijing National Stadium (the “Bird&apos;s Nest”) and the National Aquatics Center or “Water Cube,” site of U.S.  swimmer Michael Phelps&apos; eight gold medal victories.  Meals BL</description>
  <overnight>The Peninsula Beijing, China</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="4">
  <title>Temple of Heaven / Summer Palace </title>
  <description>In China&apos;s Imperial days, the emperor traveled in secret processions from the Forbidden City to the Temple of Heaven.  Visit this supreme example of traditional Chinese architecture and take part in a Tai Chi racquet exercise, where local residents teach you their moves! Tour the Summer Palace and cruise Kunming Lake in a dragon boat, prior to an &amp;#224; la carte dinner in select Legation Quarter restaurants.  Meals BD</description>
  <overnight>The Peninsula Beijing, China</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="5">
  <title>Fly to Xi&apos;an</title>
  <description>Spend a morning at leisure in Beijing before flying to Xi&apos;an for a two&amp;#45;night stay in Horizon Club&amp;#45;level rooms at the Golden Flower Hotel by Shangri&amp;#45;La, Xian.  Meals BD</description>
  <overnight>Golden Flower Hotel by Shangri-La, Xian, Xi&apos;an, China</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="6">
  <title>Tea Lesson / Terra Cotta Warriors</title>
  <description>Get an insider&apos;s view of the Terra Cotta Warriors today &amp;#45; 8,000 life&amp;#45;like statues of ancient soldiers who have guarded their emperor&apos;s underground tomb for 2,000 years.  At the site&apos;s museum, attend a tea demonstration and tasting, see the statues and hear about future plans from the museum&apos;s conservation director.  You&apos;ll also visit Little Wild Goose Pagoda.  Meals BLD</description>
  <overnight>Golden Flower Hotel by Shangri-La, Xian, Xi&apos;an, China</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="7">
  <title>Shaanxi Museum / Fly to Guilin</title>
  <description>A Tang Dynasty expert offers you a glimpse of life in ancient China at the Shaanxi History Museum, whose collection of 370,000 artifacts represents the feudal dynasties that built their capitals here.  Fly to Guilin this afternoon.  Meals BLD</description>
  <overnight>Sheraton Guilin Hotel, Guilin, China</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="8">
  <title>Li River / Chongqing / Embark Cruise</title>
  <description>Tauck&apos;s private cruise on the Li River is a treat for the eyes and the soul.  Fly to Chongqing, where you&apos;ll board the Yangzi Explorer; enjoy an &amp;#224; la carte shipboard dinner before setting off on a three&amp;#45;night Yangtze River cruise.  Meals BLD</description>
  <overnight>Aboard Yangzi Explorer, Yangtze River, China</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="9">
  <title>Yangzi Explorer / Relocation Village</title>
  <description>Your first full day cruising the Yangtze on Yangzi Explorer includes shore excursions to Fengdu and a “relocation village” for locals affected by the construction of the Three Gorges Dam.  Meet the ship&apos;s Captain tonight.  Meals BLD</description>
  <overnight>Aboard Yangzi Explorer, Yangtze River, China</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="10">
  <title>Cruising the Three Gorges </title>
  <description>After passing through Wu Gorge, take a shore excursion to Shennong Stream.  Aboard ship, there&apos;s live entertainment, a lecture by an on&amp;#45;board Sinologist and other activities.  Make your way through Xiling Gorge tonight.  Meals BLD</description>
  <overnight>Aboard Yangzi Explorer, Yangtze River, China</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="11">
  <title>Three Gorges Dam / Fly to Shanghai</title>
  <description>Yangzi Explorer sails to Yichang through locks adjacent to the new Three Gorges Dam.  Your private visit to this engineering marvel includes access to the Map Room.  Disembark and fly to Shanghai for a three&amp;#45;night stay.  Meals BLD</description>
  <overnight>The Peninsula Shanghai, China</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="12">
  <title>Shanghai Past &amp; Present / ERA Show</title>
  <description>Get a private introduction to Shanghai from the VIP viewing terrace of the Urban Planning Center; view models of the city and a 360&amp;#45;degree film.  Tour the splendid Shanghai Museum; discover the city&apos;s disappearing shikumen (traditional stone&amp;#45;gated homes) preserved in the Xintiandi neighborhood; and attend a daring ERA acrobatic performance tonight.  Meals B</description>
  <overnight>The Peninsula Shanghai, China</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="13">
  <title>Bund / Yu Gardens / Maglev Train</title>
  <description>Visit Shanghai&apos;s famous Bund, its sightseeing tunnel, and harmonious Yu Gardens.  Ride the Maglev Train; at 268 mph, it&apos;s the fastest in the world! Meet Shanghai children who sing and dance for you at the Children&apos;s Palace, and join us for a farewell reception in the rooftop lounge of The Peninsula Shanghai, followed by dinner.  Meals BLD</description>
  <overnight>The Peninsula Shanghai, China</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="14">
  <title>Fly to Hong Kong / Victoria Peak</title>
  <description>Fly from Shanghai, arriving in Hong Kong for lunch at a local dim sum restaurant.  Get to know the city on a funicular tram ride up to Victoria Peak offering panoramic views, and with a close&amp;#45;up look at life among the boat people of Aberdeen Harbour from aboard a traditional sampan.  14&amp;#45;Day Tour Ends: Shanghai.  Guests choosing a shorter, 14&amp;#45;day experience have the option to depart the tour after breakfast in Shanghai.  A transfer is provided from The Peninsula Shanghai to Shanghai Pudong International Airport.  Meals BL</description>
  <overnight>Kowloon Shangri-La, Hong Kong, China</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="15">
  <title>History Museum / Kowloon at Leisure</title>
  <description>View exhibits interpreting Hong Kong&apos;s archaeological, cultural, and natural history at the renowned Hong Kong Museum of History.  Then spend time on your own, perhaps exploring the shopping mecca of Kowloon.  Meals BD</description>
  <overnight>Kowloon Shangri-La, Hong Kong, China</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="16">
  <title>Journey Home</title>
  <description>Tour ends: Hong Kong, China. A transfer is included from the Kowloon Shangri-La to Hong Kong Int’l Airport. Allow 21/2 hours for flight check-in at the airport.</description>
  <overnight></overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast</meals>
</itineraryDay>
  </itineraryDetails>
  <highlights>
		
				3-Night Yangtze River Cruise ~ Beijing ~ Xi’an ~ Shanghai ~ Kowloon 
</highlights>
  <tauckValues>
    <value order="1">3-night Yangtze River cruise aboard the Yangzi Explorer, featuring balconied staterooms</value><value order="2">Private insider visit to Beijings hutongs with Beijing Cultural Heritage Protection Center director</value><value order="3">Tea tasting followed by private talk with the conservation director at the Terra Cotta Warriors museum in Xian</value><value order="4">Visit to the Shaanxi History Museum with insights from an expert on the Tang Dynasty</value><value order="5">Private introduction to Shanghai on the VIP viewing terrace of the Shanghai Urban Planning Center</value><value order="6">A ride on the worlds fastest train  the Maglev</value><value order="7">Performance of the daring ERA acrobatic show</value><value order="8">Funicular ride and sampan cruise in Hong Kong</value><value order="9">37 meals included (15 breakfasts, 10 lunches, 12 dinners) with gratuities to wait staff</value><value order="10">Gratuities to ship staff, local guides, drivers, service charges, admissions and porterage</value>
  </tauckValues>  
  <departureDates>
    <date>
    <day>26</day>
    <month>8</month>
    <year>2010</year>
    <singlesPrice>7997</singlesPrice>
    <doublesPrice>6290</doublesPrice>
    <triplesPrice>6197</triplesPrice>
    <quadsPrice>0</quadsPrice>
    
  </date>

</departureDates>

</tour><tour>
  <sourceId>CEW2010</sourceId>
  <title>China, the Yangtze River &amp; Hong Kong</title>
  <summary>
    <![CDATA[Tauck&apos;s ultimate China travel adventure includes ancient cities and tranquil country villages, a spellbinding 3-night cruise Yangtze River cruise aboard the Yangzi Explorer, and a host of new-for-2010 discoveries from Beijing&apos;s hutongs to a ride on the world&apos;s fastest train in Shanghai.
]]>
  </summary>
  <description>
    <![CDATA[Imagine a China tour that takes you behind the scenes at ancient treasures, exotic gardens, architectural masterpieces and compelling UNESCO World Heritage Sites like the Forbidden City, the Great Wall and the Terra Cotta Warriors... includes a memorable cruise through the Yangtze River&apos;s Three Gorges aboard the Yangzi Explorer...  and is filled with new-for-2010 experiences ranging from an insider visit to Beijing&apos;s hutongs to an introduction to Shanghai from a private VIP viewing terrace! Experience China travel by trishaw in Old Beijing, by sampan in Aberdeen Harbour, via funicular up Victoria Peak, on foot along the Great Wall, and aboard the world&apos;s fastest train, the Maglev, in Shanghai. Meet a Tang Dynasty expert in Shaanxi, the conservation director for the Terra Cotta Warriors museum in Xi&apos;an, and school children at a Three Gorges Dam relocation village along the Yangtze. There&apos;s no end to the enriching discoveries you&apos;ll make on Tauck&apos;s comprehensive China travel experience!

Note: The Yangzi Explorer cruise runs both east from Chongqing and west from Yichang. The itinerary detailed below includes the westbound (upstream) cruise from Yichang to Chongqing on nights 8 – 10.  The tour including the eastbound cruise features the same hotels and sightseeing, with a slightly different itinerary due to the downstream cruise from Chongqing to Yichang. 
]]>
  </description>
  <link>http://www.tauck.com/tours/asia-travel/china-tour-cew-2010</link>
  <durationDays>16</durationDays>
  <durationDetails>16 days and 15 nights.</durationDetails>
  <tripType>ESCORTED_TOUR</tripType>
  <brand>TWD</brand>
  <subbrand>Exotics</subbrand>
  <gradeRating>ALL_AGES</gradeRating>
  <comfortRating>COMFORTABLE_MIXED</comfortRating>
  <startingLocation>Beijing, China</startingLocation>
  <prices>
    <price currency="USD">4590</price>
    <priceDetails><![CDATA[All prices are per person in U.S. dollars. ]]></priceDetails>
  </prices>
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  <itinerary>
    <![CDATA[		•  = Cruise day

Flying to China 

Flying time to Beijing averages about 12 hours from gateway cities on the U.S. West Coast, and roughly 13-14 hours from the East Coast or Midwest; Beijing time is 12 hours ahead of the United States’ Eastern Standard Time. To ease the effects of jet lag, please consider traveling to China a day early. Tauck can book your international flights for travel originating in the U.S., and arrange an extra night at The Peninsula Beijing for the evening before your journey begins, giving you time to rest and relax. Ask at booking.

1. Arrive in Beijing
Tour begins: The Peninsula Beijing. Transfers are included from Beijing Capital Int’l Airport to The Peninsula Beijing, where you’ll enjoy a four-night stay – and a taste of Peking Duck at a welcome reception followed by dinner. Meals D

2. History &amp; the Hutongs in Beijing
A delicate balance between Beijing’s past and future surrounds you as you explore the Beijing of the present – starting at Tiananmen Square, site of the mausoleum of Mao Zedong, whose enormous portrait hangs on a high wall above the “Gate of Heavenly Peace.” Beyond it lies the Forbidden City, once home to China’s emperors; your tour includes the Hall of Supreme Harmony and the Imperial Garden. Nowhere is the conflict between progress and preservation more evident than among Beijing’s hutongs – traditional courtyard neighborhoods disappearing in the wake of new building projects. The director of the Beijing Cultural Heritage Protection Center shares a multimedia presentation and accompanies you on a private tour of one of these unique enclaves. Meals BLD

3. The Great Wall / Olympic Village
China’s Great Wall is a truly astounding achievement. At the wall’s Badaling section, take a gondola ride up to the highest point, then walk down an ancient stone path to the bottom. After lunch at The Commune by the Great Wall with vistas of the wall stretching out around you, visit Beijing’s Olympic Village and two iconic venues of the 2008 Olympic Games – Beijing National Stadium (the “Bird’s Nest”) and the National Aquatics Center or “Water Cube,” site of U.S. swimmer Michael Phelps’ eight gold medal victories. Meals BL

4. Temple of Heaven / Summer Palace 
In China’s Imperial days, the emperor traveled in secret processions from the Forbidden City to the Temple of Heaven. Visit this supreme example of traditional Chinese architecture and take part in a Tai Chi racquet exercise, where local residents teach you their moves! Tour the Summer Palace and cruise Kunming Lake in a dragon boat, prior to an à la carte dinner in select Legation Quarter restaurants. Meals BD

5. Fly to Xi’an
Spend a morning at leisure in Beijing before flying to Xi’an for a two-night stay in Horizon Club-level rooms at the Golden Flower Hotel by Shangri-La, Xian. Meals BD 

6. Tea Lesson / Terra Cotta Warriors
Get an insider’s view of the Terra Cotta Warriors today – 8,000 life-like statues of ancient soldiers who have guarded their emperor’s underground tomb for 2,000 years. At the site’s museum, attend a tea demonstration and tasting, see the statues and hear about future plans from the museum’s conservation director. You’ll also visit Little Wild Goose Pagoda. Meals BLD

7. Shaanxi Museum / Fly to Guilin
A Tang Dynasty expert offers you a glimpse of life in ancient China at the Shaanxi History Museum, whose collection of 370,000 artifacts represents the feudal dynasties that built their capitals here. Fly to Guilin this afternoon. Meals BLD

• 8. Li River / Yichang / Embark Cruise
Tauck’s private cruise on the Li River is a treat for the eyes and the soul. Fly to Yichang this evening and board the Yangzi Explorer; fresh fruit and snacks will be waiting in your cabin for the start of your 3-night Yangtze River cruise. Meals BLD

• 9. Yangzi Explorer / Three Gorges Dam
Cruise through Xiling Gorge and enjoy a private tour of the Three Gorges Dam site, the largest hydroelectric project on earth. Learn about authentic tea preparation and current trends in China prior to the Captain’s welcome reception, dinner à la carte and entertainment by the crew. Meals BLD

• 10. Cruising the Three Gorges 
Disembark for a Shennong Stream excursion aboard a sampan poled by Tujia boatmen; later, Yangzi Explorer cruises through Wu and Qutang gorges. A dumpling-making lesson precedes dinner à la carte and a documentary film tonight. Meals BLD

11. Fengdu / Chongqing / Fly to Shanghai
Yangzi Explorer arrives in Fengdu; explore the city and visit a school in a dam project “relocation village.” Continue overland to Chongqing; fly to Shanghai for a three-night stay. Meals BLD

12. Shanghai Past &amp; Present / ERA Show
Get a private introduction to Shanghai from the VIP viewing terrace of the Urban Planning Center; view models of the city and a 360-degree film. Tour the splendid Shanghai Museum; discover the city’s disappearing shikumen (traditional stone-gated homes) preserved in the Xintiandi neighborhood; and attend a daring ERA acrobatic performance tonight. Meals B

13. Bund / Yu Gardens / Maglev Train
Visit Shanghai’s famous Bund, its sightseeing tunnel, and harmonious Yu Gardens. Ride the Maglev Train; at 268 mph, it’s the fastest in the world! Meet Shanghai children who sing and dance for you at the Children’s Palace, and join us for a farewell reception in the rooftop lounge of The Peninsula Shanghai, followed by dinner. Meals BLD

14. Fly to Hong Kong / Victoria Peak
Fly from Shanghai, arriving in Hong Kong for lunch at a local dim sum restaurant. Get to know the city on a funicular tram ride up to Victoria Peak offering panoramic views, and with a close-up look at life among the boat people of Aberdeen Harbour from aboard a traditional sampan. 14-Day Tour Ends: Shanghai. Guests choosing a shorter, 14-day experience have the option to depart the tour after breakfast in Shanghai. A transfer is provided from The Peninsula Shanghai to Shanghai Pudong International Airport. Meals BL

15. History Museum / Kowloon at Leisure
View exhibits interpreting Hong Kong’s archaeological, cultural, and natural history at the renowned Hong Kong Museum of History. Then spend time on your own, perhaps exploring the shopping mecca of Kowloon. Meals BD

16. Journey Home
Tour ends: Hong Kong, China. A transfer is included from the Kowloon Shangri-La to Hong Kong Int’l Airport. Allow 21/2 hours for flight check-in at the airport. Meals B

The Yangzi Explorer cruise runs both east from Chongqing and west from Yichang. The tour itinerary here features the eastbound (downstream) cruise. Westbound tour features the same hotels and sightseeing with a slightly different itinerary due to the westbound (upstream) cruise. Visit www.tauck.com for specific dates and itinerary details.

Cruise Aboard Yangzi Explorer

Our three-night cruise aboard the Yangzi Explorer takes you through the scenic heart of the Yangtze River, the Three Gorges. A visual feast of ancient whitewashed villages, steep gorges, and terraced mountains combines with included shore excursions and a private visit to the new Three Gorges Dam. This memorable cruise will be a tour highlight! 

Yangzi Explorer is the newest and roomiest ship on the Yangtze River following a full renovation completed in 2008; she is the only internationally managed five-star cruise ship sailing the Yangtze. Carrying no more than 124 guests with a crew of 130, Yangzi Explorer boasts the highest ship staff-to-guest ratio on the river. Her staterooms set a new standard in spaciousness and elegance; all feature a mini bar, bathrobes and slippers, telephone, private safety box, television, hair dryer, and a private balcony to gaze at the passing Yangtze River landscapes. 

Offering all the amenities one would expect at a five-star hotel, the Yangzi Explorer features a fitness center; a multi-language library; spa facilities offering beauty treatments and massages; on-board entertainment, including a theater, lounge and espresso bar; and informative lectures provided by an on-board Sinologist. International buffets are offered for breakfast and lunch, while dinner tempts with a variety of international and Chinese specialties; wine and beer are included with meals. 

Supporting Preservation of the Hutongs

To help support the preservation of a vanishing aspect of Beijing culture – the hutongs, narrow alleys of traditional courtyard residences that have been an important part of the city’s life for more than 500 years, but are now rapidly disappearing – Tauck partners with the Beijing Cultural Heritage Protection Center, whose staff accompanies our guests on visits to these unique neighborhoods on every departure of China, The Yangtze River &amp; Hong Kong.
]]>
  </itinerary>
  <itineraryDetails>
    <itineraryDay day="1">
  <title>Arrive in Beijing</title>
  <description>Tour begins: The Peninsula Beijing.  Transfers are included from Beijing Capital Int&apos;l Airport to The Peninsula Beijing, where you&apos;ll enjoy a four&amp;#45;night stay &amp;#45; and a taste of Peking Duck at a welcome reception followed by dinner.  Meals D</description>
  <overnight>The Peninsula Beijing, China</overnight>
  <meals>Dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="2">
  <title>History &amp; the Hutongs in Beijing</title>
  <description>A delicate balance between Beijing&apos;s past and future surrounds you as you explore the Beijing of the present &amp;#45; starting at Tiananmen Square, site of the mausoleum of Mao Zedong, whose enormous portrait hangs on a high wall above the “Gate of Heavenly Peace.” Beyond it lies the Forbidden City, once home to China&apos;s emperors; your tour includes the Hall of Supreme Harmony and the Imperial Garden.  Nowhere is the conflict between progress and preservation more evident than among Beijing&apos;s hutongs &amp;#45; traditional courtyard neighborhoods disappearing in the wake of new building projects.  The director of the Beijing Cultural Heritage Protection Center shares a multimedia presentation and accompanies you on a private tour of one of these unique enclaves.  Meals BLD</description>
  <overnight>The Peninsula Beijing, China</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="3">
  <title>The Great Wall / Olympic Village</title>
  <description>China&apos;s Great Wall is a truly astounding achievement.  At the wall&apos;s Badaling section, take a gondola ride up to the highest point, then walk down an ancient stone path to the bottom.  After lunch at The Commune by the Great Wall with vistas of the wall stretching out around you, visit Beijing&apos;s Olympic Village and two iconic venues of the 2008 Olympic Games &amp;#45; Beijing National Stadium (the “Bird&apos;s Nest”) and the National Aquatics Center or “Water Cube,” site of U.S.  swimmer Michael Phelps&apos; eight gold medal victories.  Meals BL</description>
  <overnight>The Peninsula Beijing, China</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="4">
  <title>Temple of Heaven / Summer Palace </title>
  <description>In China&apos;s Imperial days, the emperor traveled in secret processions from the Forbidden City to the Temple of Heaven.  Visit this supreme example of traditional Chinese architecture and take part in a Tai Chi racquet exercise, where local residents teach you their moves! Tour the Summer Palace and cruise Kunming Lake in a dragon boat, prior to an &amp;#224; la carte dinner in select Legation Quarter restaurants.  Meals BD</description>
  <overnight>The Peninsula Beijing, China</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="5">
  <title>Fly to Xi&apos;an</title>
  <description>Spend a morning at leisure in Beijing before flying to Xi&apos;an for a two&amp;#45;night stay in Horizon Club&amp;#45;level rooms at the Golden Flower Hotel by Shangri&amp;#45;La, Xian.  Meals BD</description>
  <overnight>Golden Flower Hotel by Shangri-La, Xian, Xi&apos;an, China</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="6">
  <title>Tea Lesson / Terra Cotta Warriors</title>
  <description>Get an insider&apos;s view of the Terra Cotta Warriors today &amp;#45; 8,000 life&amp;#45;like statues of ancient soldiers who have guarded their emperor&apos;s underground tomb for 2,000 years.  At the site&apos;s museum, attend a tea demonstration and tasting, see the statues and hear about future plans from the museum&apos;s conservation director.  You&apos;ll also visit Little Wild Goose Pagoda.  Meals BLD</description>
  <overnight>Golden Flower Hotel by Shangri-La, Xian, Xi&apos;an, China</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="7">
  <title>Shaanxi Museum / Fly to Guilin</title>
  <description>A Tang Dynasty expert offers you a glimpse of life in ancient China at the Shaanxi History Museum, whose collection of 370,000 artifacts represents the feudal dynasties that built their capitals here.  Fly to Guilin this afternoon.  Meals BLD</description>
  <overnight>Sheraton Guilin Hotel, Guilin, China</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="8">
  <title>Li River / Yichang / Embark Cruise</title>
  <description>Tauck&apos;s private cruise on the Li River is a treat for the eyes and the soul.  Fly to Yichang this evening and board the Yangzi Explorer; fresh fruit and snacks will be waiting in your cabin for the start of your 3&amp;#45;night Yangtze River cruise.  Meals BLD</description>
  <overnight>Aboard Yangzi Explorer, Yangtze River, China</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="9">
  <title>Yangzi Explorer / Three Gorges Dam</title>
  <description>Cruise through Xiling Gorge and enjoy a private tour of the Three Gorges Dam site, the largest hydroelectric project on earth.  Learn about authentic tea preparation and current trends in China prior to the Captain&apos;s welcome reception, dinner &amp;#224; la carte and entertainment by the crew.  Meals BLD</description>
  <overnight>Aboard Yangzi Explorer, Yangtze River, China</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="10">
  <title>Cruising the Three Gorges </title>
  <description>Disembark for a Shennong Stream excursion aboard a sampan poled by Tujia boatmen; later, Yangzi Explorer cruises through Wu and Qutang gorges.  A dumpling&amp;#45;making lesson precedes dinner &amp;#224; la carte and a documentary film tonight.  Meals BLD</description>
  <overnight>Aboard Yangzi Explorer, Yangtze River, China</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="11">
  <title>Fengdu / Chongqing / Fly to Shanghai</title>
  <description>Yangzi Explorer arrives in Fengdu; explore the city and visit a school in a dam project “relocation village.” Continue overland to Chongqing; fly to Shanghai for a three&amp;#45;night stay.  Meals BLD</description>
  <overnight>The Peninsula Shanghai, China</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="12">
  <title>Shanghai Past &amp; Present / ERA Show</title>
  <description>Get a private introduction to Shanghai from the VIP viewing terrace of the Urban Planning Center; view models of the city and a 360&amp;#45;degree film.  Tour the splendid Shanghai Museum; discover the city&apos;s disappearing shikumen (traditional stone&amp;#45;gated homes) preserved in the Xintiandi neighborhood; and attend a daring ERA acrobatic performance tonight.  Meals B</description>
  <overnight>The Peninsula Shanghai, China</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="13">
  <title>Bund / Yu Gardens / Maglev Train</title>
  <description>Visit Shanghai&apos;s famous Bund, its sightseeing tunnel, and harmonious Yu Gardens.  Ride the Maglev Train; at 268 mph, it&apos;s the fastest in the world! Meet Shanghai children who sing and dance for you at the Children&apos;s Palace, and join us for a farewell reception in the rooftop lounge of The Peninsula Shanghai, followed by dinner.  Meals BLD</description>
  <overnight>The Peninsula Shanghai, China</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="14">
  <title>Fly to Hong Kong / Victoria Peak</title>
  <description>Fly from Shanghai, arriving in Hong Kong for lunch at a local dim sum restaurant.  Get to know the city on a funicular tram ride up to Victoria Peak offering panoramic views, and with a close&amp;#45;up look at life among the boat people of Aberdeen Harbour from aboard a traditional sampan.  14&amp;#45;Day Tour Ends: Shanghai.  Guests choosing a shorter, 14&amp;#45;day experience have the option to depart the tour after breakfast in Shanghai.  A transfer is provided from The Peninsula Shanghai to Shanghai Pudong International Airport.  Meals BL</description>
  <overnight>Kowloon Shangri-La, Hong Kong, China</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="15">
  <title>History Museum / Kowloon at Leisure</title>
  <description>View exhibits interpreting Hong Kong&apos;s archaeological, cultural, and natural history at the renowned Hong Kong Museum of History.  Then spend time on your own, perhaps exploring the shopping mecca of Kowloon.  Meals BD</description>
  <overnight>Kowloon Shangri-La, Hong Kong, China</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="16">
  <title>Journey Home</title>
  <description>Tour ends: Hong Kong, China. A transfer is included from the Kowloon Shangri-La to Hong Kong Int’l Airport. Allow 21/2 hours for flight check-in at the airport.</description>
  <overnight></overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast</meals>
</itineraryDay>
  </itineraryDetails>
  <highlights>
		
				3-Night Yangtze River Cruise ~ Beijing ~ Xi’an ~ Shanghai ~ Kowloon 
</highlights>
  <tauckValues>
    <value order="1">3-night Yangtze River cruise aboard the Yangzi Explorer, featuring balconied staterooms</value><value order="2">Private insider visit to Beijings hutongs with Beijing Cultural Heritage Protection Center director</value><value order="3">Tea tasting followed by private talk with the conservation director at the Terra Cotta Warriors museum in Xian</value><value order="4">Visit to the Shaanxi History Museum with insights from an expert on the Tang Dynasty</value><value order="5">Private introduction to Shanghai on the VIP viewing terrace of the Shanghai Urban Planning Center</value><value order="6">A ride on the worlds fastest train  the Maglev</value><value order="7">Performance of the daring ERA acrobatic show</value><value order="8">Funicular ride and sampan cruise in Hong Kong</value><value order="9">37 meals included (15 breakfasts, 10 lunches, 12 dinners) with gratuities to wait staff</value><value order="10">Gratuities to ship staff, local guides, drivers, service charges, admissions and porterage</value>
  </tauckValues>  
  <departureDates>
    <date>
    <day>13</day>
    <month>6</month>
    <year>2010</year>
    <singlesPrice>7997</singlesPrice>
    <doublesPrice>6290</doublesPrice>
    <triplesPrice>6197</triplesPrice>
    <quadsPrice>0</quadsPrice>
    
  </date>
  <date>
    <day>20</day>
    <month>6</month>
    <year>2010</year>
    <singlesPrice>7997</singlesPrice>
    <doublesPrice>6290</doublesPrice>
    <triplesPrice>6197</triplesPrice>
    <quadsPrice>0</quadsPrice>
    
  </date>

</departureDates>

</tour><tour>
  <sourceId>CN2010</sourceId>
  <title>Canada&apos;s Capital Cities plus Niagara Falls</title>
  <summary>
    <![CDATA[Discover Canada&apos;s historic eastern provincial capitals with 2- and 3-night stays at grand Fairmont hotels in Montreal, Toronto, Quebec City, and the national capital, Ottawa – plus cruises in the Thousand Islands and aboard Niagara&apos;s famous Maid of the Mist – on an unforgettable eastern Canada and Niagara Falls vacation!
]]>
  </summary>
  <description>
    <![CDATA[Tauck&apos;s eastern Canada and Niagara Falls vacation explores four eastern Canadian cities with distinctly diverse cultural backgrounds – Montreal, Quebec City, Ottawa and Toronto – during stays at premier Fairmont hotels, each a historic landmark in itself, along with visits to Quebec&apos;s Montmorency Falls and Ontario&apos;s Niagara Falls. Special experiences include a cruise among the Thousand Islands of the St. Lawrence River; a close-up look at the thundering waters of Niagara Falls on a cruise aboard the Maid of the Mist; and a private candlelit tour of Ottawa&apos;s historic Laurier House, led by a resident &quot;butler,&quot; for a glimpse inside the lives of two Canadian prime ministers of the past.
]]>
  </description>
  <link>http://www.tauck.com/tours/canada-tours/eastern-canada-tours/niagara-falls-vacation-cn-2010</link>
  <durationDays>10</durationDays>
  <durationDetails>10 days and 9 nights.</durationDetails>
  <tripType>ESCORTED_TOUR</tripType>
  <brand>TWD</brand>
  <subbrand>USA and Canada</subbrand>
  <gradeRating>ALL_AGES</gradeRating>
  <comfortRating>COMFORTABLE_MIXED</comfortRating>
  <startingLocation>Montreal, Quebec, Canada</startingLocation>
  <prices>
    <price currency="USD">2895</price>
    <priceDetails><![CDATA[All prices are per person in U.S. dollars. ]]></priceDetails>
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  <itinerary>
    <![CDATA[1. Arrive Montreal
Tour begins: 6:30 PM, Fairmont The Queen Elizabeth. Welcome to Montreal, second-largest French-speaking city in the world – romantic and worldly, surrounded by the St. Lawrence River and crowned by Mont-Royal. A transfer is included from Montreal Int’l Airport to Fairmont The Queen Elizabeth. We invite you to join us this evening for a welcome reception and dinner at your landmark hotel, considered the city’s most gracious. Meals D

2. Sightsee Romantic Montreal
A morning sightseeing tour includes McGill University and Mont-Royal, and a visit to Notre Dame Cathedral. After lunch, the afternoon is free to spend as you wish; stroll through the Botanical Gardens, tour Montreal’s museums, take the metro through designer stations to the city’s multi-story shopping centers, or perhaps explore underground Montreal. Meals BL

3. Montmorency Falls / Quebec
Leave Montreal and travel through the heart of French Canada. Follow the shores of the mighty St. Lawrence River through Trois Rivières, the second oldest settlement in Quebec, to magnificent Montmorency Falls; at 272 ft., they are higher than Niagara Falls. Enjoy lunch beside the falls, then continue on to the Beaupré shore and visit the Shrine of Ste. Anne de Beaupré and the famous basilica. Journey to the heart of French Canada, Quebec City, for a two-night stay at majestic Fairmont Le Chateau Frontenac. Sprawled atop sheer cliffs rising above the St. Lawrence River, Quebec City reflects an old-world charm and grace of another era with its provincial Parliament buildings, Porte St-Louis and cobbled streets. Meals BLD

4. Explore 400-year-old Quebec City
Grayed by the brush of time, ancient stone houses huddle beside old Quebec City’s venerable churches and monuments, evoking memories of a city of 18th-century Europe. Take a sightseeing tour of the provincial capital, the hemisphere’s only walled city north of Mexico. Stroll on Dufferin Terrace or among the charming open-air cafés of the Old City; the remainder of the day is at your leisure exploring as you wish. Dinner tonight is on your own; Quebec City’s restaurants feature regional fare as well as contemporary French cuisine. Meals B

5. Travel through Quebec to Ottawa
Travel along Quebec’s eastern shores – a route used by early French explorers and fur traders – and visit the stables of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police on a guided tour. Arrive in Canada’s capital city of Ottawa, renowned for its magnificent boulevards and gardens, and the regal architecture of its government buildings. Ideally set close to Canada’s Parliament Buildings and the Ottawa River, your accommodations at the stately Fairmont Château Laurier are reminiscent of an elegant French château. Meals BL

6. Discover Ottawa, Canada’s Capital
Sightseeing in Ottawa includes views of the Royal Canadian Mint, National Research Center, City Hall, the residence of the prime minister, and Rideau Hall, with an opportunity to visit Parliament. In July and August, see the Changing of the Guard (weather permitting). A late morning visit to the Museum of Civilization explores exhibits chronicling 20,000 years of human history in Canada. Spend the afternoon at leisure. Savor a glimpse of the daily lives of two of Canada’s most popular prime ministers when you join Edward, a very talkative butler, on a candlelit tour of the Laurier House National Historic Site this evening. Meals BD

7. Cruise the Thousand Islands
Head south to the St. Lawrence River, where Tauck takes you on a private luncheon cruise through the lovely Thousand Islands, home to quaint summer houses and opulent mansions. Continue along the MacDonald-Cartier Freeway to Toronto, with its lively waterfront and rich cultural attractions, for a three-night stay. Built in 1929 as the British Commonwealth’s largest hotel, your landmark hotel, The Fairmont Royal York, is conveniently located in downtown Toronto in the heart of the city. Meals BLD

8. Spend the Day in Exciting Toronto
Canada’s most populous city and the provincial capital of Ontario, multicultural Toronto is the country’s financial, cultural and entertainment hub, and is consistently ranked as one of the most livable cities in the world. Discover this diverse, vibrant city – and its notable architectural mix of structures from the Victorian, Edwardian, mid-20th-century and modern eras – on a sightseeing tour offering a view of downtown and residential areas, including the Parliament Buildings and the University of Toronto. Visit one of the city’s most visible icons, the CN Tower, the world’s tallest freestanding structure. The afternoon and evening are free to pursue your own special interests. Meals B

9. View Majestic Niagara Falls
Follow the Queen Elizabeth Way to Niagara Falls. View this natural wonder from high above as the water plunges nearly 200 feet into a rocky gorge, and descends to the churning waters of the Niagara River; don a hooded raincoat as you board the Maid of the Mist for an up-close encounter with the thundering falls. Continue along Niagara Gorge, passing such world-famous sights as Table Rock, the Floral Clock, and the Whirlpool Rapids. Visit lovely Niagara-on-the-Lake for lunch, with time to explore at leisure. Among the best-preserved towns in North America, the historic district was designated as a National Historic Site due in part to its well-preserved houses built in the British Classical tradition of architecture; they date back to the period following the War of 1812 (1815 – 1859). Join us tonight for a farewell cocktail reception and dinner. Meals BD

10. Journey Home
Tour ends: Toronto, Ontario. Fly home anytime. A transfer is included from The Fairmont Royal York to the Toronto International Airport. Allow a minimum of two hours for flight check-in. Meals B
]]>
  </itinerary>
  <itineraryDetails>
    <itineraryDay day="1">
  <title>Arrive Montreal</title>
  <description>Tour begins: 6:30 PM, Fairmont The Queen Elizabeth.  Welcome to Montreal, second&amp;#45;largest French&amp;#45;speaking city in the world &amp;#45; romantic and worldly, surrounded by the St.  Lawrence River and crowned by Mont&amp;#45;Royal.  A transfer is included from Montreal Int&apos;l Airport to Fairmont The Queen Elizabeth.  We invite you to join us this evening for a welcome reception and dinner at your landmark hotel, considered the city&apos;s most gracious.  Meals D</description>
  <overnight>Fairmont The Queen Elizabeth, Montreal, PQ</overnight>
  <meals>Dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="2">
  <title>Sightsee Romantic Montreal</title>
  <description>A morning sightseeing tour includes McGill University and Mont&amp;#45;Royal, and a visit to Notre Dame Cathedral.  After lunch, the afternoon is free to spend as you wish; stroll through the Botanical Gardens, tour Montreal&apos;s museums, take the metro through designer stations to the city&apos;s multi&amp;#45;story shopping centers, or perhaps explore underground Montreal.  Meals BL</description>
  <overnight>Fairmont The Queen Elizabeth, Montreal, PQ</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="3">
  <title>Montmorency Falls / Quebec</title>
  <description>Leave Montreal and travel through the heart of French Canada.  Follow the shores of the mighty St.  Lawrence River through Trois Rivi&amp;#232;res, the second oldest settlement in Quebec, to magnificent Montmorency Falls; at 272 ft., they are higher than Niagara Falls.  Enjoy lunch beside the falls, then continue on to the Beaupr&amp;#233; shore and visit the Shrine of Ste.  Anne de Beaupr&amp;#233; and the famous basilica.  Journey to the heart of French Canada, Quebec City, for a two&amp;#45;night stay at majestic Fairmont Le Chateau Frontenac.  Sprawled atop sheer cliffs rising above the St.  Lawrence River, Quebec City reflects an old&amp;#45;world charm and grace of another era with its provincial Parliament buildings, Porte St&amp;#45;Louis and cobbled streets.  Meals BLD</description>
  <overnight>Fairmont Le Château Frontenac, Quebec City, PQ</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="4">
  <title>Explore 400&amp;#45;year&amp;#45;old Quebec City</title>
  <description>Grayed by the brush of time, ancient stone houses huddle beside old Quebec City&apos;s venerable churches and monuments, evoking memories of a city of 18th&amp;#45;century Europe.  Take a sightseeing tour of the provincial capital, the hemisphere&apos;s only walled city north of Mexico.  Stroll on Dufferin Terrace or among the charming open&amp;#45;air caf&amp;#233;s of the Old City; the remainder of the day is at your leisure exploring as you wish.  Dinner tonight is on your own; Quebec City&apos;s restaurants feature regional fare as well as contemporary French cuisine.  Meals B</description>
  <overnight>Fairmont Le Château Frontenac, Quebec City, PQ</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="5">
  <title>Travel through Quebec to Ottawa</title>
  <description>Travel along Quebec&apos;s eastern shores &amp;#45; a route used by early French explorers and fur traders &amp;#45; and visit the stables of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police on a guided tour.  Arrive in Canada&apos;s capital city of Ottawa, renowned for its magnificent boulevards and gardens, and the regal architecture of its government buildings.  Ideally set close to Canada&apos;s Parliament Buildings and the Ottawa River, your accommodations at the stately Fairmont Ch&amp;#226;teau Laurier are reminiscent of an elegant French ch&amp;#226;teau.  Meals BL</description>
  <overnight>Fairmont Château Laurier, Ottawa, ON</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="6">
  <title>Discover Ottawa, Canada&apos;s Capital</title>
  <description>Sightseeing in Ottawa includes views of the Royal Canadian Mint, National Research Center, City Hall, the residence of the prime minister, and Rideau Hall, with an opportunity to visit Parliament.  In July and August, see the Changing of the Guard (weather permitting).  A late morning visit to the Museum of Civilization explores exhibits chronicling 20,000 years of human history in Canada.  Spend the afternoon at leisure.  Savor a glimpse of the daily lives of two of Canada&apos;s most popular prime ministers when you join Edward, a very talkative butler, on a candlelit tour of the Laurier House National Historic Site this evening.  Meals BD</description>
  <overnight>Fairmont Château Laurier, Ottawa, ON</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="7">
  <title>Cruise the Thousand Islands</title>
  <description>Head south to the St.  Lawrence River, where Tauck takes you on a private luncheon cruise through the lovely Thousand Islands, home to quaint summer houses and opulent mansions.  Continue along the MacDonald&amp;#45;Cartier Freeway to Toronto, with its lively waterfront and rich cultural attractions, for a three&amp;#45;night stay.  Built in 1929 as the British Commonwealth&apos;s largest hotel, your landmark hotel, The Fairmont Royal York, is conveniently located in downtown Toronto in the heart of the city.  Meals BLD</description>
  <overnight>The Fairmont Royal York, Toronto, ON</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="8">
  <title>Spend the Day in Exciting Toronto</title>
  <description>Canada&apos;s most populous city and the provincial capital of Ontario, multicultural Toronto is the country&apos;s financial, cultural and entertainment hub, and is consistently ranked as one of the most livable cities in the world.  Discover this diverse, vibrant city &amp;#45; and its notable architectural mix of structures from the Victorian, Edwardian, mid&amp;#45;20th&amp;#45;century and modern eras &amp;#45; on a sightseeing tour offering a view of downtown and residential areas, including the Parliament Buildings and the University of Toronto.  Visit one of the city&apos;s most visible icons, the CN Tower, the world&apos;s tallest freestanding structure.  The afternoon and evening are free to pursue your own special interests.  Meals B</description>
  <overnight>The Fairmont Royal York, Toronto, ON</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="9">
  <title>View Majestic Niagara Falls</title>
  <description>Follow the Queen Elizabeth Way to Niagara Falls.  View this natural wonder from high above as the water plunges nearly 200 feet into a rocky gorge, and descends to the churning waters of the Niagara River; don a hooded raincoat as you board the Maid of the Mist for an up&amp;#45;close encounter with the thundering falls.  Continue along Niagara Gorge, passing such world&amp;#45;famous sights as Table Rock, the Floral Clock, and the Whirlpool Rapids.  Visit lovely Niagara&amp;#45;on&amp;#45;the&amp;#45;Lake for lunch, with time to explore at leisure.  Among the best&amp;#45;preserved towns in North America, the historic district was designated as a National Historic Site due in part to its well&amp;#45;preserved houses built in the British Classical tradition of architecture; they date back to the period following the War of 1812 (1815 &amp;#45; 1859).  Join us tonight for a farewell cocktail reception and dinner.  Meals BD</description>
  <overnight>The Fairmont Royal York, Toronto, ON</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="10">
  <title>Journey Home</title>
  <description>Tour ends: Toronto, Ontario. Fly home anytime. A transfer is included from The Fairmont Royal York to the Toronto International Airport. Allow a minimum of two hours for flight check-in.</description>
  <overnight></overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast</meals>
</itineraryDay>
  </itineraryDetails>
  <highlights>
		
				Montreal ~ Quebec City ~ Ottawa ~ Toronto ~ St. Lawrence River ~ Thousand Islands 
</highlights>
  <tauckValues>
    <value order="1">Private evening candlelit tour of the Laurier House National Historic Site of Canada in Ottawa, Ontario, for a privileged glimpse at the life of two of Canadas most notable prime ministers, led by a resident butler</value><value order="2">A cruise through the lovely Thousand Islands, exploring centuries of history amidst a rich scenic beauty</value><value order="3">An exciting boat journey aboard the celebrated Maid of the Mist, close to thundering Niagara Falls</value><value order="4">Multiple-night stays in landmark Fairmont hotels in the heart of Canadas eastern capital cities, ensuring a well-balanced mix of guided sightseeing with leisure time to explore on your own</value><value order="5">Airport transfers upon arrival and departure as noted</value><value order="6">18 meals, service charges, gratuities to local guides, admission fees, taxes and porterage</value>
  </tauckValues>  
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    <date>
    <day>20</day>
    <month>7</month>
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    <day>5</day>
    <month>9</month>
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    <day>16</day>
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    <day>2</day>
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</tour><tour>
  <sourceId>CO2010</sourceId>
  <title>Costa Rica Adventure</title>
  <summary>
    <![CDATA[Witness volcanoes, rainforests, and coastal waterways on this Costa Rica travel adventure, spotting nature&apos;s best as you cruise on boats, hike in the jungle, and visit eco-parks and reserves.
]]>
  </summary>
  <description>
    <![CDATA[Active volcanoes, misty cloud forests, the Caribbean coast, and the mysterious jungle, all on a memorable, eco-rich Costa Rica travel adventure! Visits to a butterfly garden, a tropical agricultural college and a jungle cruise provide up-close views of nature. Costa Rica travel invites active participation in order to get the most out of the adventure, including an exciting &quot;sky walk&quot; on suspension bridges high above ground in the cloud forest canopy, a river float trip, and a lake cruise in the shadow of a volcano. Stays at acclaimed eco-resorts... sightseeing excursions with expert naturalists offering insights into the region&apos;s unique ecosystems, native birds and wildlife... visits to conservation and nature centers... and a look at local farm life are all highlights of your Costa Rica travel experience!]]>
  </description>
  <link>http://www.tauck.com/tours/latin-america/costa-rica-travel-co-2010</link>
  <durationDays>8</durationDays>
  <durationDetails>8 days and 7 nights.</durationDetails>
  <tripType>ESCORTED_TOUR</tripType>
  <brand>TWD</brand>
  <subbrand>Exotics</subbrand>
  <gradeRating>ALL_AGES</gradeRating>
  <comfortRating>COMFORTABLE_MIXED</comfortRating>
  <startingLocation>San José, Costa Rica</startingLocation>
  <prices>
    <price currency="USD">2285</price>
    <priceDetails><![CDATA[All prices are per person in U.S. dollars. ]]></priceDetails>
  </prices>
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  <itinerary>
    <![CDATA[		Flying to Costa Rica 


To ease the effects of jet lag, you may want to consider traveling to Costa Rica a day early. Tauck can book your international flights for travel originating in the U.S. and arrange an extra night at the Real InterContinental Hotel &amp; Club Tower Costa Rica in San José for the evening before your journey begins, giving you time to rest and relax. Ask for details at booking.

1. Arrive San José
Tour begins: Real InterContinental Hotel &amp; Club Tower Costa Rica at 6:00 PM. A transfer is included from Juan Santamaria Int’l Airport to Real InterContinental Hotel. Join us for a welcome reception and à la carte dinner. Meals D

2. Monteverde Cloud Forest
Monteverde Cloud Forest Biological Reserve is home to an incredible range of plant, animal, and bird life, including more than half of Costa Rica’s bird species. Discover the cloud forest’s secrets with an expert naturalist as you “sky walk” across the Selvatura Sky Bridges crisscrossing the tree canopies, alive with howler monkeys, agouti, sloths, toucans, and the Resplendent Quetzal. Attend a lecture by one of the Quakers who founded Monteverde Reserve in the 1950s. Meals BLD

3. Diversity of Wildlife in Monteverde 
Explore Monteverde’s amazing abundance of wildlife today; first up is a visit to the Serpentarium and its broad collection of reptiles. The Butterfly Garden features a biodiversity center and four climate-controlled butterfly gardens; naturalists offer insights on these delicate insects. Feeders at the Hummingbird Gallery introduce several different species of hummingbirds. A visit to a private reserve offers glimpses of more unique flora and fauna – and a good look at the Frog Pond of Monteverde opens your eyes to local amphibians! Meals BLD

4. Arenal Volcano / Hot Springs
A drive past coffee plantations and cattle farms takes you to Arenal National Park; this 30,000-acre park preserves eight of Costa Rica’s 12 biological zones and is home to Arenal Volcano, continuously erupting since 1968. Cruise across Lake Arenal; soak in private volcanically heated hot springs; and enjoy a Spanish lesson at your resort tonight. Meals BLD

5. Peñas Blancas River Float Trip
Head into the jungle today for a float trip* down the wildlife-rich Peñas Blancas River; your bilingual guide helps you spot giant iguanas, sloths, and monkeys. Stop along the way for a slice of Costa Rican life; have lunch with a local farmer and his family at their private home near the river. Meals BLD

6. E.A.R.T.H. / Journey to Tortuguero
En route to Costa Rica’s Caribbean coast, visit E.A.R.T.H., a private agricultural university where student guides explain educational programs balancing agricultural production and environmental protection. Continue to Tortuguero National Park; cruise jungle canals to your riverfront lodge, keeping an eye out for turtles, caimans, and crocodiles. Meals BLD

7. Tortuguero National Park
Spend the day exploring Tortuguero National Park on private morning and afternoon cruises through the region’s waterways accompanied by a naturalist guide. Visit the town of Tortuguero and learn more about the endangered sea turtles at the Caribbean Conservation Learning Center. Join us for tonight’s farewell reception and dinner. Meals BLD

8. Journey Home
Fly to San José on a private charter flight. Tour ends: Juan Santamaria Int’l Airport at 10:00 AM. Allow 2 1/2 hours for check-in. Guests departing on flights after 1:00 PM may join us on a visit to a coffee plantation. Meals B

]]>
  </itinerary>
  <itineraryDetails>
    <itineraryDay day="1">
  <title>Arrive San Jose</title>
  <description>Tour begins: Real InterContinental Hotel &amp;amp; Club Tower Costa Rica at 6:00 PM. A transfer is included from Juan Santamaria Int’l Airport to Real InterContinental Hotel. Join us for a welcome reception and à la carte dinner.</description>
  <overnight>Real InterContinental Hotel &amp; Club Tower Costa Rica, San José, Costa Rica</overnight>
  <meals>Dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="2">
  <title>Monteverde Cloud Forest</title>
  <description>Monteverde Cloud Forest Biological Reserve is home to an incredible range of plant, animal, and bird life, including more than half of Costa Rica’s bird species. Discover the cloud forest’s secrets with an expert naturalist as you “sky walk” across the Selvatura Sky Bridges crisscrossing the tree canopies, alive with howler monkeys, agouti, sloths, toucans, and the Resplendent Quetzal. Attend a lecture by one of the Quakers who founded Monteverde Reserve in the 1950s. </description>
  <overnight>Monteverde Lodge, Monteverde, Costa Rica</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="3">
  <title>Diversity of Wildlife in Monteverde</title>
  <description>Explore Monteverde’s amazing abundance of wildlife today; first up is a visit to the Serpentarium and its broad collection of reptiles. The Butterfly Garden features a biodiversity center and four climate-controlled butterfly gardens; naturalists offer insights on these delicate insects. Feeders at the Hummingbird Gallery introduce several different species of hummingbirds. A visit to a private reserve offers glimpses of more unique flora and fauna – and a good look at the Frog Pond of Monteverde opens your eyes to local amphibians!</description>
  <overnight>Monteverde Lodge, Monteverde, Costa Rica</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="4">
  <title>Arenal Volcano / Hot Springs</title>
  <description>A drive past coffee plantations and cattle farms takes you to Arenal National Park; this 30,000-acre park preserves eight of Costa Rica’s 12 biological zones and is home to Arenal Volcano, continuously erupting since 1968. Cruise across Lake Arenal; soak in private volcanically heated hot springs; and enjoy a Spanish lesson at your resort tonight.</description>
  <overnight>Tilajari Resort Hotel, Muelle, Costa Rica</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="5">
  <title>Penas Blancas River Float Trip</title>
  <description>Head into the jungle today for a float trip* down the wildlife-rich Peñas Blancas River; your bilingual guide helps you spot giant iguanas, sloths, and monkeys. Stop along the way for a slice of Costa Rican life; have lunch with a local farmer and his family at their private home near the river.</description>
  <overnight>Tilajari Resort Hotel, Muelle, Costa Rica</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="6">
  <title>E.A.R.T.H. / Journey to Tortuguero</title>
  <description>En route to Costa Rica’s Caribbean coast, visit E.A.R.T.H., a private agricultural university where student guides explain educational programs balancing agricultural production and environmental protection. Continue to Tortuguero National Park; cruise jungle canals to your riverfront lodge, keeping an eye out for turtles, caimans, and crocodiles.</description>
  <overnight>Tortuga Lodge, Tortuguero, Costa Rica</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="7">
  <title>Tortuguero National Park</title>
  <description>Spend the day exploring Tortuguero National Park on private morning and afternoon cruises through the region’s waterways accompanied by a naturalist guide. Visit the town of Tortuguero and learn more about the endangered sea turtles at the Caribbean Conservation Learning Center. Join us for tonight’s farewell reception and dinner.</description>
  <overnight>Tortuga Lodge, Tortuguero, Costa Rica</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="8">
  <title>Journey Home</title>
  <description>Fly to San José on a private charter flight. Tour ends: Juan Santamaria Int’l Airport at 10:00 AM. Allow 2 1/2 hours for check-in. Guests departing on flights after 1:00 PM may join us on a visit to a coffee plantation. </description>
  <overnight></overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast</meals>
</itineraryDay>
  </itineraryDetails>
  <highlights>
		

</highlights>
  <tauckValues>
    <value order="1">Special, privately guided ecotourism experiences within Costa Ricas renowned Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve, and Arenal and Tortuguero national parks</value><value order="2">A sky walk in a cloud forest canopy, a soak in private volcanic hot springs, a Spanish lesson and more</value><value order="3">Visits to E.A.R.T.H. University, Monteverde Butterfly Garden and the Caribbean Conservation Learning Center, where youll meet naturalists and conservationists</value><value order="4">Wildlife viewing on a Peas Blancas River float trip, a Lake Arenal cruise, and jungle cruises in Tortuguero</value><value order="5">Visit to the private home of a local farmer whose family has lived along the Peas Blancas River for generations</value><value order="6">2-night stays at 3 acclaimed eco-resorts in the heart of Costa Ricas rainforests  Tortuga Lodge, Monteverde Lodge &amp; Tilajari Resort Hotel</value><value order="7">All meals  20 (7 breakfasts, 6 lunches, 7 dinners)</value><value order="8">Airport transfers, service charges, gratuities to local guides, taxes and porterage</value>
  </tauckValues>  
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    <date>
    <day>1</day>
    <month>11</month>
    <year>2010</year>
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    <triplesPrice>2299</triplesPrice>
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  </date>
  <date>
    <day>8</day>
    <month>11</month>
    <year>2010</year>
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  </date>
  <date>
    <day>13</day>
    <month>12</month>
    <year>2010</year>
    <singlesPrice>3147</singlesPrice>
    <doublesPrice>2790</doublesPrice>
    <triplesPrice>2699</triplesPrice>
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  </date>
  <date>
    <day>20</day>
    <month>12</month>
    <year>2010</year>
    <singlesPrice>3647</singlesPrice>
    <doublesPrice>3290</doublesPrice>
    <triplesPrice>3199</triplesPrice>
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  </date>

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</tour><tour>
  <sourceId>CR2010</sourceId>
  <title>Canadian Rockies &amp; Glacier National Park</title>
  <summary>
    <![CDATA[Tour four Canadian national parks plus Montana&apos;s Glacier National Park on a Rockies memory-maker that includes the Icefields Parkway, a ride on a glacier, a lake cruise, and a mountain photography lesson.
]]>
  </summary>
  <description>
    <![CDATA[Visit five world-renowned national parks in the Canadian Rockies and Montana – contiguous Waterton Lakes National Park and Glacier National Park, comprising the world’s first International Peace Park; Kootenay; and Jasper and Banff national parks, both with stays at inside-the-park Fairmont resorts. Highlights feature an Ice Explorer ride on Athabasca Glacier, a scenic lake cruise, expert tips on mountain photography from a professional photographer, a wine-and-cheese reception hosted by a local artist, and a trip on a historic 1930s-vintage touring bus over the Going-to-the-Sun Road.
]]>
  </description>
  <link>http://www.tauck.com/tours/canada-tours/western-canada-tours/glacier-national-park-cr-2010</link>
  <durationDays>9</durationDays>
  <durationDetails>9 days and 8 nights.</durationDetails>
  <tripType>ESCORTED_TOUR</tripType>
  <brand>TWD</brand>
  <subbrand>USA and Canada</subbrand>
  <gradeRating>ALL_AGES</gradeRating>
  <comfortRating>COMFORTABLE_MIXED</comfortRating>
  <startingLocation>Calgary, Alberta, Canada</startingLocation>
  <prices>
    <price currency="USD">3490</price>
    <priceDetails><![CDATA[All prices are per person in U.S. dollars. ]]></priceDetails>
  </prices>
  <images>
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  <itinerary>
    <![CDATA[1. Arrive Calgary
Tour begins: 6:00 PM at The Fairmont Palliser. A transfer is included upon your arrival from the Calgary Airport to The Fairmont Palliser, centrally located in the heart of downtown Calgary. Join us for a welcome reception and dinner tonight. Meals D

2. Glacier National Park
Travel south to Waterton Lakes National Park, then across the border to Montana and Glacier National Park, a haven for some of the world’s endangered species. En route, visit the prehistoric UNESCO World Heritage Site of Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump, used continuously by aboriginal peoples of the plains for more than 5,500 years. Stay tonight at a rustic hotel built on the shores of a shimmering alpine lake. A national historic landmark, the Many Glacier Hotel combines soul-stirring views with abundant recreational diversions to ensure a memorable overnight stay in the heart of the park. Meals BLD

3. Going-To-The-Sun Road
Experience the grandeur of the park by land and boat. Enjoy a private morning cruise on alpine lakes and, weather permitting, take a journey along the Going-to-the-Sun Road aboard the park’s classic red, restored 1930s vintage touring buses. Skirt the shores of St. Mary’s Lake as you depart the park; cross the Continental Divide and arrive at Lake McDonald for an overnight stay. Meals BLD

4. Kootenay National Park
Journey through Canada’s timberlands to Kootenay National Park; see the bright red walls of Sinclair Canyon, and travel through Radium Hot Springs. Spend the night at your Fairmont resort nestled on the wooded shores of Lake Louise, where your room has a lakeside view. Meals BLD

5. Photo Tips / Jasper / Art Reception
Photographers and artists both have attempted to capture the scenic beauty that unfolds before you everywhere you look in Canada’s national parks. Enjoy expert tips from a local photographer this morning, then try out your newfound skills on a drive along the Icefields Parkway from Lake Louise to the town of Jasper. This wonderfully scenic drive extends for 142 miles through a vast wilderness of snow-capped peaks, ancient glaciers, mountain lakes and sweeping valleys that is protected as a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its outstanding natural beauty and geological value – look for resident wildlife along the way. Join us for a private wine and cheese reception hosted by a local artist in The Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge, your inside-the-park home for two nights. Meals BLD

6. Explore Jasper National Park
Spend the entire day as you wish enjoying an array of optional diversions (many are available at an additional cost). You might want to play a round of golf on the resort’s acclaimed golf course – built in the 1920s by golf architect Stanley Thompson, it hugs the mountains, meanders past glacier-fed lakes and runs through a wildlife corridor where elk and caribou can often be seen. Hiking, trail riding and rafting adventures take you out into the pristine wilderness; fishing excursions and wildlife tours introduce the “locals‚” and the spa is always a great treat! Meals BD

7. Icefields Parkway / Banff National Park
Follow the Icefields Parkway to Banff National Park, stopping for a ride aboard a specially designed Ice Explorer along the surface of the Athabasca Glacier; part of the Columbia Icefield, it is covered with prehistoric ice. Continue on to The Fairmont Banff Springs for two nights. This baronial resort first opened in 1888 as one of world’s most luxurious mountain getaways and is today considered an enduring symbol of Canadian hospitality. Meals BLD

8. Banff As You Please
Spend the day as you wish in one of the most beautiful wilderness resorts in Canada. Optional activities include golf, tennis, hiking, fishing, river rafting, horseback riding or pampering treatments in the property’s full-service Willow Stream Spa (additional cost may apply). There is a lot to do in Banff village, from museums to people-watching. Join us for a farewell dinner tonight. Meals BD

9. Journey Home
Return to Calgary (approx. 80 miles). Tour ends: Calgary Airport at 10:00 AM. Allow a minimum of two hours for check-in; U.S. flights clear U.S. customs in Calgary. Meals B
]]>
  </itinerary>
  <itineraryDetails>
    <itineraryDay day="1">
  <title>Arrive Calgary</title>
  <description>Tour begins: 6:00 PM at The Fairmont Palliser.  A transfer is included upon your arrival from the Calgary Airport to The Fairmont Palliser, centrally located in the heart of downtown Calgary.  Join us for a welcome reception and dinner tonight.  Meals D</description>
  <overnight>The Fairmont Palliser, Calgary, AB</overnight>
  <meals>Dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="2">
  <title>Glacier National Park</title>
  <description>Travel south to Waterton Lakes National Park, then across the border to Montana and Glacier National Park, a haven for some of the world&apos;s endangered species.  En route, visit the prehistoric UNESCO World Heritage Site of Head&amp;#45;Smashed&amp;#45;In Buffalo Jump, used continuously by aboriginal peoples of the plains for more than 5,500 years.  Stay tonight at a rustic hotel built on the shores of a shimmering alpine lake.  A national historic landmark, the Many Glacier Hotel combines soul&amp;#45;stirring views with abundant recreational diversions to ensure a memorable overnight stay in the heart of the park.  Meals BLD</description>
  <overnight>Many Glacier Hotel,* Glacier National Park, MT</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="3">
  <title>Going&amp;#45;To&amp;#45;The&amp;#45;Sun Road</title>
  <description>Experience the grandeur of the park by land and boat.  Enjoy a private morning cruise on alpine lakes and, weather permitting, take a journey along the Going&amp;#45;to&amp;#45;the&amp;#45;Sun Road aboard the park&apos;s classic red, restored 1930s vintage touring buses.  Skirt the shores of St.  Mary&apos;s Lake as you depart the park; cross the Continental Divide and arrive at Lake McDonald for an overnight stay.  Meals BLD</description>
  <overnight>Lake McDonald Lodge,* Glacier National Park, MT</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="4">
  <title>Kootenay National Park</title>
  <description>Journey through Canada&apos;s timberlands to Kootenay National Park; see the bright red walls of Sinclair Canyon, and travel through Radium Hot Springs.  Spend the night at your Fairmont resort nestled on the wooded shores of Lake Louise, where your room has a lakeside view.  Meals BLD</description>
  <overnight>The Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise, Banff National Park, AB</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="5">
  <title>Photo Tips / Jasper / Art Reception</title>
  <description>Photographers and artists both have attempted to capture the scenic beauty that unfolds before you everywhere you look in Canada&apos;s national parks.  Enjoy expert tips from a local photographer this morning, then try out your newfound skills on a drive along the Icefields Parkway from Lake Louise to the town of Jasper.  This wonderfully scenic drive extends for 142 miles through a vast wilderness of snow&amp;#45;capped peaks, ancient glaciers, mountain lakes and sweeping valleys that is protected as a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its outstanding natural beauty and geological value &amp;#45; look for resident wildlife along the way.  Join us for a private wine and cheese reception hosted by a local artist in The Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge, your inside&amp;#45;the&amp;#45;park home for two nights.  Meals BLD</description>
  <overnight>The Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge, Jasper National Park, AB</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="6">
  <title>Explore Jasper National Park</title>
  <description>Spend the entire day as you wish enjoying an array of optional diversions (many are available at an additional cost).  You might want to play a round of golf on the resort&apos;s acclaimed golf course &amp;#45; built in the 1920s by golf architect Stanley Thompson, it hugs the mountains, meanders past glacier&amp;#45;fed lakes and runs through a wildlife corridor where elk and caribou can often be seen.  Hiking, trail riding and rafting adventures take you out into the pristine wilderness; fishing excursions and wildlife tours introduce the “locals‚” and the spa is always a great treat! Meals BD</description>
  <overnight>The Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge, Jasper National Park, AB</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="7">
  <title>Icefields Parkway / Banff National Park</title>
  <description>Follow the Icefields Parkway to Banff National Park, stopping for a ride aboard a specially designed Ice Explorer along the surface of the Athabasca Glacier; part of the Columbia Icefield, it is covered with prehistoric ice.  Continue on to The Fairmont Banff Springs for two nights.  This baronial resort first opened in 1888 as one of world&apos;s most luxurious mountain getaways and is today considered an enduring symbol of Canadian hospitality.  Meals BLD</description>
  <overnight>The Fairmont Banff Springs, Banff National Park, AB</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="8">
  <title>Banff As You Please</title>
  <description>Spend the day as you wish in one of the most beautiful wilderness resorts in Canada.  Optional activities include golf, tennis, hiking, fishing, river rafting, horseback riding or pampering treatments in the property&apos;s full&amp;#45;service Willow Stream Spa (additional cost may apply).  There is a lot to do in Banff village, from museums to people&amp;#45;watching.  Join us for a farewell dinner tonight.  Meals BD</description>
  <overnight>The Fairmont Banff Springs, Banff National Park, AB</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="9">
  <title>Journey Home</title>
  <description>Return to Calgary (approx. 80 miles). Tour ends: Calgary Airport at 10:00 AM. Allow a minimum of two hours for check-in; U.S. flights clear U.S. customs in Calgary.</description>
  <overnight></overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast</meals>
</itineraryDay>
  </itineraryDetails>
  <highlights>
		
				Waterton Lakes National Park ~ Glacier National Park ~ Kootenay National Park ~ Jasper National Park ~ Banff National Park 
</highlights>
  <tauckValues>
    <value order="1">Guided exploration of five national parks in Canada and the U.S. Banff, Jasper, Kootenay, Waterton Lakes and Glacier, including 1930s touring buses on Going-to-the-Sun Road and an Ice Explorer ride on Athabasca Glacier</value><value order="2">Inside-the-heart-of-the-park accommodations at the most celebrated Fairmont wilderness resorts in North America  Chateau Lake Louise, Jasper Park Lodge and Banff Springs</value><value order="3">Private lake cruises, photography tips from a local expert, and a wine and cheese reception hosted by a local artist</value><value order="4">Airport transfers upon arrival and departure as noted</value><value order="5">21 meals, service charges, gratuities to local guides, admission fees, taxes and porterage</value>
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</tour><tour>
  <sourceId>CS2010</sourceId>
  <title>Charleston / Savannah</title>
  <summary>
    <![CDATA[The glory days of the Old South come alive on this most memorable of South Carolina and Georgia tours – with a private Charleston harbor cruise, an exclusive private evening featuring Savannah&apos;s Madeira traditions, and visits to plantations, gardens, a Civil War fort, and an island tycoon retreat.
]]>
  </summary>
  <description>
    <![CDATA[Tauck&apos;s most comprehensive of South Carolina and Georgia tours transports you to long-past days of gracious Southern living in a rarefied world of plantations, 19th-century mansions, magnolias and live oaks hung with Spanish moss. Explore National Historic Landmark Districts in Savannah, Jekyll Island,  Charleston and Beaufort... visit Fort Pulaski and a maritime museum in Savannah... take a privately guided Connoisseur Tour of Drayton Hall, and stroll through the gardens of Middleton Place...  discover Savannah&apos;s beloved Madeira traditions on an exclusive private evening... embark on a private cruise in Charleston Harbor... ride a horse-drawn carriage through charming Beaufort, and more. This memorable Tauck journey is as refreshing as a cool glass of sweet tea!

]]>
  </description>
  <link>http://www.tauck.com/tours/usa-tours/southern-usa-travel/georgia-tours-cs-2010</link>
  <durationDays>8</durationDays>
  <durationDetails>8 days and 7 nights.</durationDetails>
  <tripType>ESCORTED_TOUR</tripType>
  <brand>TWD</brand>
  <subbrand>USA and Canada</subbrand>
  <gradeRating>ALL_AGES</gradeRating>
  <comfortRating>COMFORTABLE_MIXED</comfortRating>
  <startingLocation>Jacksonville, Florida</startingLocation>
  <prices>
    <price currency="USD">2350</price>
    <priceDetails><![CDATA[All prices are per person in U.S. dollars. ]]></priceDetails>
  </prices>
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  <itinerary>
    <![CDATA[1. Arrive Jacksonville
Tour departs: 3:00 PM from Jacksonville Int’l Airport. For guests spending the previous night on Jekyll Island (which we highly recommend), a transfer from Jacksonville Int’l Airport to the Jekyll Island Club Hotel is included; your resort hotel was once part of one of America’s most exclusive private clubs. Join us for a welcome cocktail reception followed by dinner at your leisure. Meals D

2. St. Simons Island / Savannah Traditions
Tour Jekyll Island’s 240-acre historic district by tram car, visiting Faith Chapel and Rockefeller’s Indian Mound; drive to nearby St. Simons Island, with its vast marshlands, oaks draped with Spanish moss, and glorious beaches. Continue to Savannah; your hotel, the Hilton Savannah DeSoto, is set in the center of the restored historic district. Experience a memorable private evening featuring Savannah’s Madeira traditions at the Davenport House Museum and dinner at elegant 45 Bistro in the Marshall House Hotel. Meals BLD

3. Discover Historic Savannah
A private tour of the Juliette Gordon Low (founder of the Girl Scouts) Birthplace precedes a visit to the Ships of the Sea Maritime Museum, chronicling the great Atlantic trading era. Sightsee Savannah, home to America’s largest landmark district containing over 1,000 restored buildings, with a local expert before exploring further on your own. Meals B

4. Fort Pulaski / Hilton Head
Visit Fort Pulaski National Monument, rich in Civil War history, en route to Hilton Head Island, bordered by one of the few unspoiled marine estuaries on the east coast of the U.S. Have dinner à la carte tonight at your resort, where you’ll enjoy Ocean View accommodations. Meals BLD

5. Beaufort / Charleston Harbor Cruise
If you wish, take one more walk on Hilton Head’s beautiful beaches before heading to Beaufort; explore this charming town’s National Historic Landmark District aboard a horse-drawn carriage. Continue to Charleston, where a private harbor cruise reveals centuries of maritime history. Dine tonight at a choice of fine Charleston eateries. Meals BD

6. Explore Beautiful Charleston
One of America’s most important seaports, Charleston brims with history. A local guide takes you along cobblestone streets by the harbor, past walled gardens where fragrant jasmine and wisteria fill the air; see the famed military school, The Citadel, and the Battery. Spend the rest of the day as you please; the city’s pre-Revolution buildings and antebellum homes embody an era long past. Meals B

7. Carolina Plantations 
Some of the finest 17th- and 18th-century plantations and gardens are set just outside Charleston. On a private Connoisseur Tour of Drayton Hall, built in 1738, you’ll learn fascinating details of three centuries of plantation life from senior interpreters. Preserved in its original condition, the mansion is one of the best examples of Georgian Palladian architecture. Walk through America’s oldest landscaped gardens at 18th-century Middleton Place, the grandest of the Ashley River plantations and a National Historic Landmark; tour the mansion and visit the plantation stable yards. We invite you to join us this evening for a farewell cocktail reception and dinner at your historic hotel. Meals BLD

8. Journey Home
Tour ends: Charleston. Fly home anytime. A transfer from The Mills House Hotel to Charleston International Airport is included. Allow two hours for flight check-in. Meals B
]]>
  </itinerary>
  <itineraryDetails>
    <itineraryDay day="1">
  <title>Arrive Jacksonville</title>
  <description>Tour departs: 3:00 PM from Jacksonville Int&apos;l Airport.  For guests spending the previous night on Jekyll Island (which we highly recommend), a transfer from Jacksonville Int&apos;l Airport to the Jekyll Island Club Hotel is included; your resort hotel was once part of one of America&apos;s most exclusive private clubs.  Join us for a welcome cocktail reception followed by dinner at your leisure.  Meals D</description>
  <overnight>Jekyll Island Club Hotel, Jekyll Island, GA</overnight>
  <meals>Dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="2">
  <title>St.  Simons Island / Savannah Traditions</title>
  <description>Tour Jekyll Island&apos;s 240&amp;#45;acre historic district by tram car, visiting Faith Chapel and Rockefeller&apos;s Indian Mound; drive to nearby St.  Simons Island, with its vast marshlands, oaks draped with Spanish moss, and glorious beaches.  Continue to Savannah; your hotel, the Hilton Savannah DeSoto, is set in the center of the restored historic district.  Experience a memorable private evening featuring Savannah&apos;s Madeira traditions at the Davenport House Museum and dinner at elegant 45 Bistro in the Marshall House Hotel.  Meals BLD</description>
  <overnight>Hilton Savannah DeSoto, Savannah, GA</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="3">
  <title>Discover Historic Savannah</title>
  <description>A private tour of the Juliette Gordon Low (founder of the Girl Scouts) Birthplace precedes a visit to the Ships of the Sea Maritime Museum, chronicling the great Atlantic trading era.  Sightsee Savannah, home to America&apos;s largest landmark district containing over 1,000 restored buildings, with a local expert before exploring further on your own.  Meals B</description>
  <overnight>Hilton Savannah DeSoto, Savannah, GA</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="4">
  <title>Fort Pulaski / Hilton Head</title>
  <description>Visit Fort Pulaski National Monument, rich in Civil War history, en route to Hilton Head Island, bordered by one of the few unspoiled marine estuaries on the east coast of the U.S.  Have dinner &amp;#224; la carte tonight at your resort, where you&apos;ll enjoy Ocean View accommodations.  Meals BLD</description>
  <overnight>The Westin Hilton Head Island Resort &amp; Spa, Hilton Head, SC</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="5">
  <title>Beaufort / Charleston Harbor Cruise</title>
  <description>If you wish, take one more walk on Hilton Head&apos;s beautiful beaches before heading to Beaufort; explore this charming town&apos;s National Historic Landmark District aboard a horse&amp;#45;drawn carriage.  Continue to Charleston, where a private harbor cruise reveals centuries of maritime history.  Dine tonight at a choice of fine Charleston eateries.  Meals BD</description>
  <overnight>The Mills House Hotel, Charleston, SC</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="6">
  <title>Explore Beautiful Charleston</title>
  <description>One of America&apos;s most important seaports, Charleston brims with history.  A local guide takes you along cobblestone streets by the harbor, past walled gardens where fragrant jasmine and wisteria fill the air; see the famed military school, The Citadel, and the Battery.  Spend the rest of the day as you please; the city&apos;s pre&amp;#45;Revolution buildings and antebellum homes embody an era long past.  Meals B</description>
  <overnight>The Mills House Hotel, Charleston, SC</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="7">
  <title>Carolina Plantations </title>
  <description>Some of the finest 17th&amp;#45; and 18th&amp;#45;century plantations and gardens are set just outside Charleston.  On a private Connoisseur Tour of Drayton Hall, built in 1738, you&apos;ll learn fascinating details of three centuries of plantation life from senior interpreters.  Preserved in its original condition, the mansion is one of the best examples of Georgian Palladian architecture.  Walk through America&apos;s oldest landscaped gardens at 18th&amp;#45;century Middleton Place, the grandest of the Ashley River plantations and a National Historic Landmark; tour the mansion and visit the plantation stable yards.  We invite you to join us this evening for a farewell cocktail reception and dinner at your historic hotel.  Meals BLD</description>
  <overnight>The Mills House Hotel, Charleston, SC</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="8">
  <title>Journey Home</title>
  <description>Tour ends: Charleston. Fly home anytime. A transfer from The Mills House Hotel to Charleston International Airport is included. Allow two hours for flight check-in.</description>
  <overnight></overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast</meals>
</itineraryDay>
  </itineraryDetails>
  <highlights>		


Jekyll Island ~ St. Simons Island ~ Fort Pulaski ~ Hilton Head Island ~ Beaufort



</highlights>
  <tauckValues>
    <value order="1">A guided tour with expert interpreters that delves into three centuries of history at Drayton Hall, using a rich cache of historical photographs, plantation logs and archived letters</value><value order="2">A private cruise in Charleston Harbor, where Charlestons rich maritime heritage comes alive, from the Revolutionary War to pirates to nature; visit places that bigger boats can&apos;t reach</value><value order="3">An exclusive private evening featuring a taste of Savannah&apos;s beloved Madeira traditions at the Federal-style Davenport House Museum, followed by an elegant dinner at 45 Bistro in the landmark Marshall House Hotel</value><value order="4">Airport transfers upon arrival and departure as detailed</value><value order="5">15 meals, service charges, gratuities to local guides, admission fees, taxes and porterage</value>
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    <day>9</day>
    <month>9</month>
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    <day>16</day>
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    <day>30</day>
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    <day>14</day>
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</tour><tour>
  <sourceId>CY2010</sourceId>
  <title>America&apos;s Canyonlands</title>
  <summary>
    <![CDATA[Tauck&apos;s Bryce Canyon, Zion and magnificent Grand Canyon tour takes in the geologic wonders of three of North America&apos;s most popular national parks by boat, plane, and 4-wheel-drive vehicle – and includes the urban glamour and glitz of Las Vegas and the quiet splendor of classic national park lodges.
]]>
  </summary>
  <description>
    <![CDATA[Stay at sought-after lodges in the heart of three great national parks of the American West! Enjoy an ecological talk on the Grand Canyon&apos;s rim by geology expert Canyon Dave... an interpretive lecture on water in the Southwest... a float trip on the Colorado River... aerial sightseeing over Rainbow Bridge... a choice between a Lake Powell boat trip and a 4-wheel-drive adventure... a walking tour of artistic Sedona... Bryce Canyon&apos;s hoodoos... and an overnight in glamorous Las Vegas. Discover for yourself why this popular Bryce Canyon, Zion and Grand Canyon tour is one of Tauck&apos;s favorite journeys anywhere in the world!
]]>
  </description>
  <link>http://www.tauck.com/tours/usa-tours/western-usa-travel/grand-canyon-tour-cy-2010</link>
  <durationDays>8</durationDays>
  <durationDetails>8 days and 7 nights.</durationDetails>
  <tripType>ESCORTED_TOUR</tripType>
  <brand>TWD</brand>
  <subbrand>USA and Canada</subbrand>
  <gradeRating>ALL_AGES</gradeRating>
  <comfortRating>COMFORTABLE_MIXED</comfortRating>
  <startingLocation>Phoenix, Arizona</startingLocation>
  <prices>
    <price currency="USD">2390</price>
    <priceDetails><![CDATA[All prices are per person in U.S. dollars. ]]></priceDetails>
  </prices>
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  <itinerary>
    <![CDATA[1. Arrive Phoenix
Tour begins: 5:30 PM, JW Marriott Desert Ridge Resort &amp; Spa. A transfer is included from Phoenix Sky Harbor Int’l Airport to the JW Marriott Desert Ridge Resort &amp; Spa. Join us for a welcome reception and dinner. Meals D

2. Sedona / The Grand Canyon
Set out for the red-rock landscapes of Sedona, Arizona, named for the wife of its first postmaster and renowned for its stunning array of red sandstone formations that glow orange and red at dawn and sunset. Bearing colorful names like Coffeepot Rock, the Mittens and the Rabbit Ears, these red rocks have provided the backdrop for many a western film. Following a guided walking tour that takes you back in time to the days of the early settlers, spend time at leisure checking out the town, a favorite with artists. Continue on through Oak Creek Canyon to Grand Canyon National Park; over one mile deep and 277 miles long, the canyon was carved over millions of years by the Colorado River. Dine at your choice of restaurants at El Tovar, the Arizona Room or Bright Angel Café tonight. Meals BD

3. Grand Canyon National Park
It’s easy to be mesmerized by the massive scope and awesome grandeur of the Grand Canyon. You may want to awaken early, take a short walk from your lodge on the South Rim, and watch the sunrise over the canyon – a truly unforgettable sight! Enjoy an entertaining talk by geology expert Canyon Dave on the rim and explore Canyon Village as you please; traverse the Navajo Reservation and the Painted Desert to Glen Canyon National Recreation Area for a two-night stay at Lake Powell Resorts &amp; Marinas. A lecture on water’s role in ecology is followed by a private dinner tonight. Meals BD

4. Lake Powell / Flightseeing
The Glen Canyon Dam took 17 years to “fill up” Glen Canyon, transforming the Colorado River into 186-mile-long Lake Powell! Fringed by fjord-like canyons, it’s one of the largest man-made bodies of water ever created; there’s no lake like it on earth. While enjoying the lake’s scenic splendor from your lakefront resort, Tauck takes you to see its hidden wonders by air, and by water or by land. An included 30-minute morning flight* affords incredible views of red-rock formations – including Rainbow Bridge, the world’s largest natural arch, about the same height as the Statue of Liberty! An optional four-hour flightseeing excursion and tour to Monument Valley* is available at an additional cost (see Monument Valley Option). Later, set off on a boat excursion* to remote lake areas, or embark on a four-wheel-drive vehicle adventure* to amazing Antelope Canyon – hidden to most visitors. Meals BD

5. River Float Trip / Bryce Canyon
Check out nature’s awesome handiwork on an inspiring float trip* along the Colorado River through Glen Canyon; your river adventure guide imparts a wealth of knowledge about the canyon as you glide past colorful walls of Navajo sandstone. Say goodbye to Arizona and set across Utah landscapes that over the years have often served as locations for movie and TV westerns. Arrive in Bryce Canyon National Park, a wondrous land of pines, pinnacles and oddly sculpted formations known as hoodoos, resembling the towers of fairy-tale castles. Before you lie magnificent spires, tinted with shades of pink, orange and red, which put on a show as the light changes throughout the day. Whether strolling the park’s scenic pathways or hiking along its many miles of excellent trails, keep an eye open for its abundant wildlife, including elk, coyotes, marmots, and prairie dogs. Your sought-after accommodations at historic Bryce Canyon Lodge, listed on the National Historic Register, are nestled within a lush forest of towering ponderosa pines right in the heart of the national park. Meals BLD

6. Wonders of Bryce Canyon &amp; Zion
If you rise early this morning, you can catch an incredible show – an awe-inspiring Bryce Canyon sunrise, with the light of dawn slowly spreading across the park’s hoodoos and other unique geological features; it’s all just a short walk from your room at Bryce Canyon Lodge! Spend the morning at leisure, perhaps taking advantage of Bryce Canyon’s renowned hiking trails to observe a great variety of bird species, beautiful wildflowers and diverse wildlife. Travel across southwestern Utah to Zion National Park, where colorful sandstone canyons and 3,000-foot-high palisades tower above the lush greenery of the canyon floor. The park’s shuttle system and network of hiking trails afford easy access to its key geologic features. Thriving vegetation includes cottonwood trees and dry desert plants; wildlife ranges from mule deer to hundreds of bird species. Spend the night in cabins at the restored Zion Lodge, the only accommodation inside the park. Meals BLD

7. Zion National Park / Las Vegas
The morning is yours to explore Zion’s diverse geological features at leisure; its dramatic peaks and cliffs, odd geologic formations, desert oases featuring abundant pools and waterfalls, and mighty canyons splashed with vivid colors are all equally compelling. The Paiutes believed this place to be the home of their coyote spirit, Sinawava, while early Mormon visitors referred to it as ‚”the natural temples of God.”  Highlights include a trio of peaks known as the Three Patriarchs; the Emerald Pools, fed by waterfalls cascading over the canyon walls; and the veil of springwater trickling over Weeping Rock. Depart Zion National Park for a memorable journey across the vast, colorful vistas of the northeastern Mojave Desert. Then get ready for a bit of ”culture shock” as you arrive in Las Vegas, Nevada – a city that truly never sleeps, offering non-stop entertainment and fancifully themed casinos. Please join us this evening for a farewell reception and dinner at your renowned Roman-themed casino hotel, Caesars Palace Las Vegas, during which a true ”hint of magic” ends a phenomenal week. Your rooms are in the deluxe Forum Tower. Meals BLD

8. Journey Home
Tour ends: Las Vegas, Nevada. Fly home anytime. A transfer is included from Caesars Palace Las Vegas to Las Vegas McCarran International Airport. Checkout time at Caesars Palace is 11:00 AM. Allow a minimum of two hours for flight check-in. Meals B

]]>
  </itinerary>
  <itineraryDetails>
    <itineraryDay day="1">
  <title>Arrive Phoenix</title>
  <description>Tour begins: 5:30 PM, JW Marriott Desert Ridge Resort &amp; Spa.  A transfer is included from Phoenix Sky Harbor Int&apos;l Airport to the JW Marriott Desert Ridge Resort &amp; Spa.  Join us for a welcome reception and dinner.  Meals D</description>
  <overnight>JW Marriott Desert Ridge Resort &amp; Spa, Phoenix, AZ</overnight>
  <meals>Dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="2">
  <title>Sedona / The Grand Canyon</title>
  <description>Set out for the red&amp;#45;rock landscapes of Sedona, Arizona, named for the wife of its first postmaster and renowned for its stunning array of red sandstone formations that glow orange and red at dawn and sunset.  Bearing colorful names like Coffeepot Rock, the Mittens and the Rabbit Ears, these red rocks have provided the backdrop for many a western film.  Following a guided walking tour that takes you back in time to the days of the early settlers, spend time at leisure checking out the town, a favorite with artists.  Continue on through Oak Creek Canyon to Grand Canyon National Park; over one mile deep and 277 miles long, the canyon was carved over millions of years by the Colorado River.  Dine at your choice of restaurants at El Tovar, the Arizona Room or Bright Angel Caf&amp;#233; tonight.  Meals BD</description>
  <overnight>Kachina Lodge, Grand Canyon National Park, AZ</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="3">
  <title>Grand Canyon National Park</title>
  <description>It&apos;s easy to be mesmerized by the massive scope and awesome grandeur of the Grand Canyon.  You may want to awaken early, take a short walk from your lodge on the South Rim, and watch the sunrise over the canyon &amp;#45; a truly unforgettable sight! Enjoy an entertaining talk by geology expert Canyon Dave on the rim and explore Canyon Village as you please; traverse the Navajo Reservation and the Painted Desert to Glen Canyon National Recreation Area for a two&amp;#45;night stay at Lake Powell Resorts &amp; Marinas.  A lecture on water&apos;s role in ecology is followed by a private dinner tonight.  Meals BD</description>
  <overnight>Lake Powell Resorts &amp; Marinas, Page, AZ</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="4">
  <title>Lake Powell / Flightseeing</title>
  <description>The Glen Canyon Dam took 17 years to “fill up” Glen Canyon, transforming the Colorado River into 186&amp;#45;mile&amp;#45;long Lake Powell! Fringed by fjord&amp;#45;like canyons, it&apos;s one of the largest man&amp;#45;made bodies of water ever created; there&apos;s no lake like it on earth.  While enjoying the lake&apos;s scenic splendor from your lakefront resort, Tauck takes you to see its hidden wonders by air, and by water or by land.  An included 30&amp;#45;minute morning flight* affords incredible views of red&amp;#45;rock formations &amp;#45; including Rainbow Bridge, the world&apos;s largest natural arch, about the same height as the Statue of Liberty! An optional four&amp;#45;hour flightseeing excursion and tour to Monument Valley* is available at an additional cost (see Monument Valley Option).  Later, set off on a boat excursion* to remote lake areas, or embark on a four&amp;#45;wheel&amp;#45;drive vehicle adventure* to amazing Antelope Canyon &amp;#45; hidden to most visitors.  Meals BD</description>
  <overnight>Lake Powell Resorts &amp; Marinas, Page, AZ</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="5">
  <title>River Float Trip / Bryce Canyon</title>
  <description>Check out nature&apos;s awesome handiwork on an inspiring float trip* along the Colorado River through Glen Canyon; your river adventure guide imparts a wealth of knowledge about the canyon as you glide past colorful walls of Navajo sandstone.  Say goodbye to Arizona and set across Utah landscapes that over the years have often served as locations for movie and TV westerns.  Arrive in Bryce Canyon National Park, a wondrous land of pines, pinnacles and oddly sculpted formations known as hoodoos, resembling the towers of fairy&amp;#45;tale castles.  Before you lie magnificent spires, tinted with shades of pink, orange and red, which put on a show as the light changes throughout the day.  Whether strolling the park&apos;s scenic pathways or hiking along its many miles of excellent trails, keep an eye open for its abundant wildlife, including elk, coyotes, marmots, and prairie dogs.  Your sought&amp;#45;after accommodations at historic Bryce Canyon Lodge, listed on the National Historic Register, are nestled within a lush forest of towering ponderosa pines right in the heart of the national park.  Meals BLD</description>
  <overnight>Bryce Canyon Lodge, Bryce Canyon National Park, UT</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="6">
  <title>Wonders of Bryce Canyon &amp; Zion</title>
  <description>If you rise early this morning, you can catch an incredible show &amp;#45; an awe&amp;#45;inspiring Bryce Canyon sunrise, with the light of dawn slowly spreading across the park&apos;s hoodoos and other unique geological features; it&apos;s all just a short walk from your room at Bryce Canyon Lodge! Spend the morning at leisure, perhaps taking advantage of Bryce Canyon&apos;s renowned hiking trails to observe a great variety of bird species, beautiful wildflowers and diverse wildlife.  Travel across southwestern Utah to Zion National Park, where colorful sandstone canyons and 3,000&amp;#45;foot&amp;#45;high palisades tower above the lush greenery of the canyon floor.  The park&apos;s shuttle system and network of hiking trails afford easy access to its key geologic features.  Thriving vegetation includes cottonwood trees and dry desert plants; wildlife ranges from mule deer to hundreds of bird species.  Spend the night in cabins at the restored Zion Lodge, the only accommodation inside the park.  Meals BLD</description>
  <overnight>Zion Lodge, Zion National Park, UT</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="7">
  <title>Zion National Park / Las Vegas</title>
  <description>The morning is yours to explore Zion&apos;s diverse geological features at leisure; its dramatic peaks and cliffs, odd geologic formations, desert oases featuring abundant pools and waterfalls, and mighty canyons splashed with vivid colors are all equally compelling.  The Paiutes believed this place to be the home of their coyote spirit, Sinawava, while early Mormon visitors referred to it as ‚”the natural temples of God.” Highlights include a trio of peaks known as the Three Patriarchs; the Emerald Pools, fed by waterfalls cascading over the canyon walls; and the veil of springwater trickling over Weeping Rock.  Depart Zion National Park for a memorable journey across the vast, colorful vistas of the northeastern Mojave Desert.  Then get ready for a bit of ”culture shock” as you arrive in Las Vegas, Nevada &amp;#45; a city that truly never sleeps, offering non&amp;#45;stop entertainment and fancifully themed casinos.  Please join us this evening for a farewell reception and dinner at your renowned Roman&amp;#45;themed casino hotel, Caesars Palace Las Vegas, during which a true ”hint of magic” ends a phenomenal week.  Your rooms are in the deluxe Forum Tower.  Meals BLD</description>
  <overnight>Caesars Palace Las Vegas, NV</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="8">
  <title>Journey Home</title>
  <description>Tour ends: Las Vegas, Nevada. Fly home anytime. A transfer is included from Caesars Palace Las Vegas to Las Vegas McCarran International Airport. Checkout time at Caesars Palace is 11:00 AM. Allow a minimum of two hours for flight check-in.</description>
  <overnight></overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast</meals>
</itineraryDay>
  </itineraryDetails>
  <highlights>
		
				Grand Canyon National Park ~ Bryce Canyon National Park ~ Zion National Park ~ Sedona ~ Montezuma Castle 
</highlights>
  <tauckValues>
    <value order="1">Inside-the-park accommodations at three national parks  Grand Canyon, Bryce Canyon and Zion</value><value order="2">Choice of sightseeing at Lake Powell  a cruise on the lake provides lots of possibilities for exploration, or a four-wheel-drive vehicle adventure takes you to the hidden sandstone walls of Antelope Canyon</value><value order="3">Insights into the Grand Canyons ecology from geology expert Canyon Dave, from the perfect vantage point  looking out over the rim of the canyon</value><value order="4">A fascinating interpretive lecture on the ecological role of water in the Southwest at Lake Powell</value><value order="5">Airport transfers upon arrival and departure as detailed</value><value order="6">17 meals, service charges, gratuities to local guides, admission fees, taxes and porterage</value>
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</tour><tour>
  <sourceId>DA2010</sourceId>
  <title>Alpine Interlude</title>
  <summary>
    <![CDATA[		

Including the Passion Play! 

– Our ultimate alpine experience features Tauck&apos;s premier seating at the 2010 Oberammergau Passion Play, a cogwheel train journey to the Jungfraujoch and more on a 12-day adventure through the Austrian, German, Italian and Swiss Alps.
]]>
  </summary>
  <description>
    <![CDATA[		Including the Passion Play! Tauck’s 12-day Alpine Interlude – Including The Passion Play
showcases authentic, engaging experiences in the Austrian, Italian,
Swiss and Bavarian Alps – and features a once-in-a-lifetime experience
in the alpine village of Oberammergau – the 2010 Oberammergau Passion
Play, which you&apos;ll watch from Tauck&apos;s premier seating, in the best
category available! Journey along the Yellow Roads,
like the Grossglockner-Hochalpenstrasse, through some of the most
inspiring scenery on earth; climb to the highest railway station in
Europe aboard a cogwheel train; and take in a sweeping panorama of
alpine splendor from a cable car. Explore the exciting cities of
Zurich, Berne, Vaduz, Innsbruck, Salzburg and Vienna. Savor a real
taste of the Alps in a Swiss Gasthof, a treat in a famous Viennese café, authentic specialties in a Bavarian restaurant, and visit to a 900-year-old monastery winery. Let the land of The Sound of Music,
the music of Mozart, and a world-famous performance event that occurs
once every ten years – the Oberammergau Passion Play (or Passionsspiele) – inspire you. Your spirits will soar as high as the mountains as you discover the Alps and the Passionsspiele with Tauck!
]]>
  </description>
  <link>http://www.tauck.com/tours/europe-tours/central-and-eastern-europe-tours/swiss-alps-da-2010</link>
  <durationDays>12</durationDays>
  <durationDetails>12 days and 11 nights.</durationDetails>
  <tripType>ESCORTED_TOUR</tripType>
  <brand>TWD</brand>
  <subbrand>Europe</subbrand>
  <gradeRating>ALL_AGES</gradeRating>
  <comfortRating>COMFORTABLE_MIXED</comfortRating>
  <startingLocation>Zurich, Switzerland</startingLocation>
  <prices>
    <price currency="USD">5690</price>
    <priceDetails><![CDATA[All prices are per person in U.S. dollars. ]]></priceDetails>
  </prices>
  <images>
    <image isMain="true">http://tools.tauck.com/Files/ItineraryImages/ListImages/img_DA2010_list.jpg</image>
    <image>http://tools.tauck.com/Files/ItineraryImages/altImages/DA2010_alt1.jpg</image>
    <image>http://tools.tauck.com/Files/ItineraryImages/altImages/DA2010_alt2.jpg</image>
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    <image isMap="true">http://tools.tauck.com/Files/ItineraryImages/MapImages/map_DA2010.jpg</image>
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  <itinerary>
    <![CDATA[
		

1. Arrive Zurich


Tour begins: 6:00 PM, Hotel Schweizerhof Zurich. Welcome to Switzerland! A transfer is included from Zurich Airport to Hotel Schweizerhof Zurich. Join us tonight for a welcome reception and dinner. Meals D
 
2. Zurich / Berne / Interlaken
Set out for Berne, the Swiss capital, whose Old City is a UNESCO World Heritage Site; enjoy lunch in a 17th-century Gasthof offering views of the Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau peaks. Continue to Interlaken for two nights at one of Europe’s most celebrated resort hotels. Meals BL
 
3. Jungfraujoch / Interlaken
Following a short scenic ride to Grindelwald, begin your alpine journey with an ascent through the mountains by cogwheel train to the Jungfraujoch; at 10,500 feet, you’re surrounded by snow-covered peaks and breathtaking valleys. Descend through the meadows to Lauterbrunnen, and return to Interlaken for an evening at leisure. Meals BD
 
4. Liechtenstein / Austria / Bavaria
Sparkling lakes and alpine peaks abound as you traverse the heart of Switzerland to Vaduz in tiny Liechtenstein. Continue on across Austria and into southern Germany. Arrive in the Bavarian town of Garmisch-Partenkirchen for a two-night stay at a hotel that’s been family-owned for nearly 500 years, and tomorrow’s performance of Oberammergau’s legendary Passion Play! Meals BD
 
5. Experience Oberammergau’s Passionsspiele
Tauck’s alpine odyssey takes you to the Bavarian village of Oberammergau to attend one of Europe’s most beloved and venerable traditions, a performance of the 2010 Oberammergau Passion Play, or Passionsspiele, depicting the Passion of Christ. In the 1630s, as the plague raged throughout Europe, the people of Oberammergau vowed to perform a play about the life of Jesus every ten years if they were spared from the devastating epidemic... and kept their promise. First produced in 1634, the village’s Passionsspiele now involves the talents of over 2,000 actors, musicians and technicians – all Oberammergau residents – and includes dramatic scenes of the Passion (in German), as well as musical performances and tableaux vivants of Old Testament scenes. Enjoy Tauck’s premier seating – in the best category available – for the performance, which begins in the afternoon, and, following a dinner break, continues into the evening. An English libretto is provided to enhance your enjoyment of this once-in-a-lifetime experience! Meals BLD
 
6. Explore Innsbruck / Austrian Alps
Depart Bavaria and cross into Austria to Innsbruck. Explore this alpine city’s rich historic architecture, reflecting its days as the Imperial capital of 15th-century Habsburg Emperor Maximilian I – including its well-preserved Old Town. Continue through the Austrian Alps to Strassen for a two-night stay. Meals BD
 
7. A Day in the Dolomites
Austria and Italy intertwine today as you weave your way through both countries. Standing like sentinels in the sky, the sheer rock walls of the Dolomites are distinctive landmarks which can be seen for miles. Get set to enjoy panoramic views of these impressive alpine peaks – some of which rise to nearly 11,000 feet – during a ride aboard a cable car (weather permitting). Meals BLD
 
8. Grossglockner / Salzburg
Today’s travels along the Grossglockner-Hochalpenstrasse high in the Alps take you on one of the most famous roads in Europe, a Tauck Yellow Roads highlight! As you ascend from the valley floor to over 11,000 feet, green meadows give way to soaring granite walls. Have lunch in Zell am See en route to Salzburg for a two-night stay. Meals BLD
 
9. Sightsee Salzburg
A picturesque city on the Salzach river, Salzburg’s skyline is a symphony of Baroque church towers, cupolas and steeples. A guided walking tour includes a visit to the birthplace of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Salzburg’s most famous son. Tonight, attend an evening of classical music at Mirabell Palace to enjoy a taste of Mozart’s legacy as celebrated by music festivals the world over; the palace was the residence of the wealthy Archbishop of Salzburg, in whose court the young Mozart was employed. Meals B
 
10. Rail to Vienna
Travel first class by train from Salzburg to Vienna, Austria’s capital and one of Europe’s most beautiful cities; upon arrival, visit a Viennese café for coffee and cake. Discover the heart of old Imperial Vienna on a walking tour concluding at your landmark hotel, Hotel Imperial, Vienna. The rest of the afternoon is yours to explore this city of noble palaces, broad avenues, lovely parks and inspiring architecture at your own pace. Meals BL
 
11. Sightsee Imperial Vienna
Vienna was capital of the Habsburg empire for centuries; see the Ringstrasse and some of the city’s magnificent Baroque and Art Nouveau architecture on a city tour. Visit Stift Klosterneuburg, just north of Vienna, for a tour and a wine tasting at this remarkable monastery complex on the banks of the Danube, whose roots date back to the 12th century. Spend the rest of the day exploring more of romantic Vienna at your leisure, pursuing what interests you most. Please join us tonight for a farewell reception and dinner, where you can share memories of your remarkable Oberammergau experience! Meals BD
 
12. Journey Home
Tour Ends: Vienna, Austria. A transfer is included from Hotel Imperial, Vienna to Vienna International Airport. Allow a minimum of 2 1/2 hours for flight check-in. Meals B
]]>
  </itinerary>
  <itineraryDetails>
    <itineraryDay day="1">
  <title>Arrive Zurich</title>
  <description>Tour begins: 6:00 PM, Hotel Schweizerhof Zurich. Welcome to Switzerland! A transfer is included from Zurich Airport to Hotel Schweizerhof Zurich. Join us tonight for a welcome reception and dinner.</description>
  <overnight>Hotel Schweizerhof Zurich, Switzerland</overnight>
  <meals>Dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="2">
  <title>Zurich / Berne / Interlaken</title>
  <description>Set out for Berne, the Swiss capital, whose Old City is a UNESCO World Heritage Site; enjoy lunch in a 17th-century Gasthof offering views of the Eiger, Mönch and Jungfrau peaks. Continue to Interlaken for two nights at one of Europe’s most celebrated resort hotels.</description>
  <overnight>Victoria Jungfrau Grand Hotel &amp; Spa, Interlaken, Switzerland</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="3">
  <title>Jungfraujoch / Interlaken</title>
  <description>Following a short scenic ride to Grindelwald, begin your alpine journey with an ascent through the mountains by cogwheel train to the Jungfraujoch; at 10,500 feet, you’re surrounded by snow-covered peaks and breathtaking valleys. Descend through the meadows to Lauterbrunnen, and return to Interlaken for an evening at leisure.</description>
  <overnight>Victoria Jungfrau Grand Hotel &amp; Spa, Interlaken, Switzerland</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="4">
  <title>Liechtenstein / Austria / Bavaria</title>
  <description>Sparkling lakes and alpine peaks abound as you traverse the heart of Switzerland to Vaduz in tiny Liechtenstein. Continue on across Austria and into southern Germany. Arrive in the Bavarian town of Garmisch-Partenkirchen for a two-night stay at a hotel that’s been family-owned for nearly 500 years, and tomorrow’s performance of Oberammergau’s legendary Passion Play!</description>
  <overnight>Hotel Obermuehle, Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="5">
  <title>Experience Oberammergau’s Passionsspiele</title>
  <description>Tauck’s alpine odyssey takes you to the Bavarian village of Oberammergau to attend one of Europe’s most beloved and venerable traditions, a performance of the 2010 Oberammergau Passion Play, or Passionsspiele, depicting the Passion of Christ. In the 1630s, as the plague raged throughout Europe, the people of Oberammergau vowed to perform a play about the life of Jesus every ten years if they were spared from the devastating epidemic... and kept their promise. First produced in 1634, the village’s Passionsspiele now involves the talents of over 2,000 actors, musicians and technicians – all Oberammergau residents – and includes dramatic scenes of the Passion (in German), as well as musical performances and tableaux vivants of Old Testament scenes. Enjoy Tauck’s premier seating – in the best category available – for the performance, which begins in the afternoon, and, following a dinner break, continues into the evening. An English libretto is provided to enhance your enjoyment of this once-in-a-lifetime experience!</description>
  <overnight>Hotel Obermuehle, Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="6">
  <title>Explore Innsbruck / Austrian Alps</title>
  <description>Depart Bavaria and cross into Austria to Innsbruck. Explore this alpine city’s rich historic architecture, reflecting its days as the Imperial capital of 15th-century Habsburg Emperor Maximilian I – including its well-preserved Old Town. Continue through the Austrian Alps to Strassen for a two-night stay.</description>
  <overnight>Grand Hotel Lienz, Austria</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="7">
  <title>A Day in the Dolomites</title>
  <description>Austria and Italy intertwine today as you weave your way through both countries. Standing like sentinels in the sky, the sheer rock walls of the Dolomites are distinctive landmarks which can be seen for miles. Get set to enjoy panoramic views of these impressive alpine peaks – some of which rise to nearly 11,000 feet – during a ride aboard a cable car (weather permitting).</description>
  <overnight>Grand Hotel Lienz, Austria</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="8">
  <title>Grossglockner / Salzburg</title>
  <description>Today’s travels along the Grossglockner-Hochalpenstrasse high in the Alps take you on one of the most famous roads in Europe, a Tauck Yellow Roads highlight! As you ascend from the valley floor to over 11,000 feet, green meadows give way to soaring granite walls. Have lunch in Zell am See en route to Salzburg for a two-night stay.</description>
  <overnight>Hotel Goldener Hirsch, Salzburg, Austria</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="9">
  <title>Sightsee Salzburg</title>
  <description>A picturesque city on the Salzach river, Salzburg’s skyline is a symphony of Baroque church towers, cupolas and steeples. A guided walking tour includes a visit to the birthplace of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Salzburg’s most famous son. Tonight, attend an evening of classical music at Mirabell Palace to enjoy a taste of Mozart’s legacy as celebrated by music festivals the world over; the palace was the residence of the wealthy Archbishop of Salzburg, in whose court the young Mozart was employed.</description>
  <overnight>Hotel Goldener Hirsch, Salzburg, Austria</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="10">
  <title>Rail to Vienna</title>
  <description>Travel first class by train from Salzburg to Vienna, Austria’s capital and one of Europe’s most beautiful cities; upon arrival, visit a Viennese café for coffee and cake. Discover the heart of old Imperial Vienna on a walking tour concluding at your landmark hotel, Hotel Imperial, Vienna. The rest of the afternoon is yours to explore this city of noble palaces, broad avenues, lovely parks and inspiring architecture at your own pace.</description>
  <overnight>Hotel Imperial, Vienna, Austria</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="11">
  <title>Sightsee Imperial Vienna</title>
  <description>Vienna was capital of the Habsburg empire for centuries; see the Ringstrasse and some of the city’s magnificent Baroque and Art Nouveau architecture on a city tour. Visit Stift Klosterneuburg, just north of Vienna, for a tour and a wine tasting at this remarkable monastery complex on the banks of the Danube, whose roots date back to the 12th century. Spend the rest of the day exploring more of romantic Vienna at your leisure, pursuing what interests you most. Please join us tonight for a farewell reception and dinner, where you can share memories of your remarkable Oberammergau experience!</description>
  <overnight>Hotel Imperial, Vienna, Austria</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="12">
  <title>Journey Home</title>
  <description>Tour Ends: Vienna, Austria. A transfer is included from Hotel Imperial, Vienna to Vienna International Airport. Allow a minimum of 2 1/2 hours for flight check-in.</description>
  <overnight></overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast</meals>
</itineraryDay>
  </itineraryDetails>
  <highlights>
		
				
						Interlaken ~ Liechtenstein ~ Oberammergau Passion Play ~ Dolomites ~ Salzburg ~ Vienna
				
		
</highlights>
  <tauckValues>
    <value order="1">A once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to attend a performance of the legendary Oberammergau Passionsspiele (Passion Play), during a two-night stay in the Bavarian Alps</value><value order="2">Taucks premier seating for the Oberammergau Passion Play, the best available for this world-famous event</value><value order="3">TAUCKS YELLOW ROADS! A journey through the Austrian Alps along the Grossglockner-Hochalpenstrasse</value><value order="4">A sacred tour and wine tasting at the Baroque monastery complex of Stift Klosterneuburg on the River Danube</value><value order="5">A special classical concert at Mirabell Palace celebrating the music of Salzburgs native son, Mozart</value><value order="6">An ascent through the Swiss Alps by cogwheel train to the Jungfraujoch</value><value order="7">24 meals, service charges, gratuities to local guides, admission fees, airport transfers, taxes and porterage</value>
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    <day>30</day>
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  <date>
    <day>4</day>
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</tour><tour>
  <sourceId>DC2010</sourceId>
  <title>Venice &amp; the Dalmatian Coast</title>
  <summary>
    <![CDATA[One of Europe&apos;s most popular destinations is Croatia&apos;s Dalmatian Coast; cruise and tour aboard the new yacht Le Boreal, taking in castles, palaces, and cultural treasures on Tauck&apos;s Croatia tour that begins in Venice and explores UNESCO World Heritage Sites such as Dubrovnik, the walled city of Kotor, and Diocletian&apos;s Palace.
]]>
  </summary>
  <description>
    <![CDATA[Cruise the Dalmatian Coast, dotted with ancient forts and castles, and looking much as it did during the Age of Sail. Brand new for 2010, the yacht Le Boreal, takes just 90 guests on this Croatia tour and cruise along the Dalmatian Coast. Thrill to the sight of palaces, cathedrals, walled cities, citadels, and amphitheaters from the Greek, Roman, Gothic, Renaissance, and Baroque epochs in history. Explore UNESCO World Heritage Sites on visits to Dubrovnik, Venice, Kotor, Sibenik&apos;s Cathedral, and Diocletian&apos;s Palace in Split. Enjoy a wine tasting and a Moreska cultural performance. Spend two nights in Venice to take in the rich treasures of the lagoon city – a highlight of your cruise from Venice to the Dalmatian Coast – the ultimate Croatia tour and cruise experience!
]]>
  </description>
  <link>http://cruise-travel.tauck.com/tours/europe-tours/italy-tours/croatia-tour-dc-2010</link>
  <durationDays>10</durationDays>
  <durationDetails>10 days and 9 nights.</durationDetails>
  <tripType>ESCORTED_TOUR</tripType>
  <brand>TauckAtSea</brand>
  <subbrand>Tauck at Sea</subbrand>
  <gradeRating>ALL_AGES</gradeRating>
  <comfortRating>COMFORTABLE_MIXED</comfortRating>
  <startingLocation>Venice, Italy</startingLocation>
  <prices>
    <price currency="USD">5690</price>
    <priceDetails><![CDATA[All prices are per person in U.S. dollars. ]]></priceDetails>
  </prices>
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  <itinerary>
    <![CDATA[		
• = cruise day

1. Arrive Venice
Tour begins: 6:00 PM, Hotel Danieli. A transfer from Venice’s Marco Polo Airport to the Hotel Danieli is included upon your arrival. Originally built as a palace for the Doge Dandolo, this 14th-century landmark near Piazza San Marco has been lavishly restored with pink marble, stained glass, gold leaf and Murano glass chandeliers. Join us this evening in this wonderful setting for a welcome cocktail reception and dinner. Meals D

2. Experience the Pleasures of Venice
There’s nothing quite like getting to know a new destination through the eyes – and the experiences – of a local expert... and you’ll do just that in Venice today when you join a resident guide for a tour of Piazza San Marco (St. Mark’s Square), the center of Venetian life and home to dramatic St. Mark’s Basilica. After some first-class people-watching (not to mention pigeon-watching) in one of the most recognizable public squares on earth, go inside the Basilica, a magnificent blend of Eastern and Western influences, for a close-up look at its gleaming mosaics and other priceless treasures including statues, icons and its famous horses. You’ll get a taste of how opulent life was for the ruling elite of medieval Venice at the richly decorated Doges’ Palace; begun in the 9th century, it served as the official residence of the Venetian Republic’s rulers through the Renaissance and beyond. The rest of your day is free to explore this historic canal city, refreshingly devoid of cars, as you wish. Meals B

• 3. Murano / Embark Le Boreal
The little island of Murano in the Venetian Lagoon became Europe’s principal glass-producing center during the Renaissance, and its artisans still craft their signature glass the traditional way. See how it’s done with a glassblowing demonstration at a Murano studio before visiting the island of Burano, renowned for its lively fishing villages dotted with brightly painted houses, and for the exquisite lace it produces. After exploring colorful Burano on your own, return to Venice and board Le Boreal, a sleek, innovative yachting cruise vessel launching in May 2010. Sipping cocktails on the deck as you sail past Piazza San Marco and out into the Adriatic Sea is an experience you’ll never forget... and can there be a more perfect way to begin your 7-night cruise along Croatia’s Dalmatian Coast? Meals BD

• 4. Colorful Croatia - Sibenik &amp; Split
The new Le Boreal docks this morning in Sibenik, Croatia, where you’ll see the Cathedral of St. James. A stunning Gothic masterpiece of white stone decorated with sculptured heads of what are believed to be Sibenik townspeople of the time, this UNESCO World Heritage Site will definitely turn your head! An inspiring drive along the beautiful Adriatic coast leads to the port of Split, a city that grew up in and around the remains of the 4th-century palace of the Roman emperor Diocletian. These well-preserved ruins house shops, homes, and one of the world’s oldest cathedrals within their ancient walls; explore them on a walking tour, and visit the gallery of the renowned 20th-century Croatian sculptor Ivan Mestrovic. Meals BLD

• 5. The Beautiful Island of Korcula
Today’s destination is the Adriatic island of Korcula, birthplace of famed 13th-century explorer Marco Polo. Your local guide leads you on a walking tour of Korcula’s walled town to see the Museum of the Icons in the church, the Cathedral of St. Mark, and the town’s most famous house, on what may have been the site of Polo’s family home. You’ll also be treated to a firsthand look at the island’s colorful folkloric traditions with a private Moreska dance presentation, performed only in this town. Meals BLD

• 6. Montenegro and Scenic Kotor
Incredible scenery surrounds you as Le Boreal sails into the fjord-like Bay of Kotor and docks in Kotor. Montenegro’s ancient maritime center, now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, was both a Roman and a Byzantine stronghold; a guided walking tour visits its maritime museum and one of the city’s Romanesque churches. Back aboard the ship, a local female a cappella singing group entertains today; your cruise continues on to Dubrovnik, Croatia. Meals BLD

• 7. Dubrovnik, “Pearl of the Adriatic”
Awaken in the magnificent walled port city of Dubrovnik, where a private on-board lecture by Croatia’s former Minister of Tourism precedes a full day spent exploring this medieval gem. With ancient buildings, squares, cobbled streets and fountains all created from the same beautifully cut stone, Dubrovnik’s entire Old Town has been preserved as a UNESCO World Heritage Site; discover the main square, the Dominican Monastery, the Rector’s Palace, Dubrovnik Synagogue and more on a walking tour. Then spend the rest of the day as you please, perhaps strolling along the city’s impressive ramparts overlooking the sea, or visiting its fine maritime museum. Meals BLD

• 8. The Treasures of Hvar
A favorite sun-kissed playground of the rich and famous, the island of Hvar welcomes you with lush vineyards, aromatic fields of lavender, and cultural treasures destined to leave you enriched and inspired. Island exploration includes a tour of Hvar Town, home to intricately carved Venetian architecture. You’ll also see Spanjol Fortress, steeped in medieval charm; it is set high above the town with spectacular coastal views. The Dalmatian Coast produces some exceptional wine; enjoy a wine tasting to sample the fruits of Croatian vintners and return to Hvar Town for time at leisure. Meals BLD

• 9. Istria / Pula, Croatia
Discoveries along the lovely Istrian peninsula, bordering Italy on Croatia’s northern Adriatic coast, begin in Pula, featuring impressive vestiges of Roman occupation; visit its 1st-century amphitheatre, considered the best preserved in the world. Later, take a guided walking tour of the fairy-tale village of Rovinj, one of the most-photographed spots in Croatia. Please join us this evening for farewell cocktails and dinner as Le Boreal returns to Venice. Meals BLD

10. Disembark Ship / Journey Home
Tour ends: 9:00 AM at Venice’s Marco Polo Airport. Disembark Le Boreal for an 8:30 AM coach transfer from the dock to Marco Polo Airport. Allow a minimum of 21/2 hours for check-in at the airport. Meals B

]]>
  </itinerary>
  <itineraryDetails>
    <itineraryDay day="1">
  <title>Arrive Venice</title>
  <description>Tour begins: 6:00 PM, Hotel Danieli. A transfer from Venice’s Marco Polo Airport to the Hotel Danieli is included upon your arrival. Originally built as a palace for the Doge Dandolo, this 14th-century landmark near Piazza San Marco has been lavishly restored with pink marble, stained glass, gold leaf and Murano glass chandeliers. Join us this evening in this wonderful setting for a welcome cocktail reception and dinner.</description>
  <overnight>Hotel Danieli, Venice, Italy</overnight>
  <meals>Dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="2">
  <title>Experience the Pleasures of Venice</title>
  <description>There’s nothing quite like getting to know a new destination through the eyes – and the experiences – of a local expert... and you’ll do just that in Venice today when you join a resident guide for a tour of Piazza San Marco (St. Mark’s Square), the center of Venetian life and home to dramatic St. Mark’s Basilica. After some first-class people-watching (not to mention pigeon-watching) in one of the most recognizable public squares on earth, go inside the Basilica, a magnificent blend of Eastern and Western influences, for a close-up look at its gleaming mosaics and other priceless treasures including statues, icons and its famous horses. You’ll get a taste of how opulent life was for the ruling elite of medieval Venice at the richly decorated Doges’ Palace; begun in the 9th century, it served as the official residence of the Venetian Republic’s rulers through the Renaissance and beyond. The rest of your day is free to explore this historic canal city, refreshingly devoid of cars, as you wish.</description>
  <overnight>Hotel Danieli, Venice, Italy</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="3">
  <title>Murano / Embark Le Boreal</title>
  <description>The little island of Murano in the Venetian Lagoon became Europe’s principal glass-producing center during the Renaissance, and its artisans still craft their signature glass the traditional way. See how it’s done with a glassblowing demonstration at a Murano studio before visiting the island of Burano, renowned for its lively fishing villages dotted with brightly painted houses, and for the exquisite lace it produces. After exploring colorful Burano on your own, return to Venice and board Le Boreal, a sleek, innovative yachting cruise vessel launching in May 2010. Sipping cocktails on the deck as you sail past Piazza San Marco and out into the Adriatic Sea is an experience you’ll never forget... and can there be a more perfect way to begin your 7-night cruise along Croatia’s Dalmatian Coast?</description>
  <overnight>Cruising aboard Le Boreal</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="4">
  <title>Colorful Croatia - Sibenik &amp; Split</title>
  <description>The new Le Boreal docks this morning in Sibenik, Croatia, where you’ll see the Cathedral of St. James. A stunning Gothic masterpiece of white stone decorated with sculptured heads of what are believed to be Sibenik townspeople of the time, this UNESCO World Heritage Site will definitely turn your head! An inspiring drive along the beautiful Adriatic coast leads to the port of Split, a city that grew up in and around the remains of the 4th-century palace of the Roman emperor Diocletian. These well-preserved ruins house shops, homes, and one of the world’s oldest cathedrals within their ancient walls; explore them on a walking tour, and visit the gallery of the renowned 20th-century Croatian sculptor Ivan Mestrovic.</description>
  <overnight>Cruising aboard Le Boreal</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="5">
  <title>The Beautiful Island of Korcula</title>
  <description>Today’s destination is the Adriatic island of Korcula, birthplace of famed 13th-century explorer Marco Polo. Your local guide leads you on a walking tour of Korcula’s walled town to see the Museum of the Icons in the church, the Cathedral of St. Mark, and the town’s most famous house, on what may have been the site of Polo’s family home. You’ll also be treated to a firsthand look at the island’s colorful folkloric traditions with a private Moreska dance presentation, performed only in this town.</description>
  <overnight>Cruising aboard Le Boreal</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="6">
  <title>Montenegro and Scenic Kotor</title>
  <description>Incredible scenery surrounds you as Le Boreal sails into the fjord-like Bay of Kotor and docks in Kotor. Montenegro’s ancient maritime center, now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, was both a Roman and a Byzantine stronghold; a guided walking tour visits its maritime museum and one of the city’s Romanesque churches. Back aboard the ship, a local female a cappella singing group entertains today; your cruise continues on to Dubrovnik, Croatia.</description>
  <overnight>Cruising aboard Le Boreal</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="7">
  <title>Dubrovnik, “Pearl of the Adriatic”</title>
  <description>Awaken in the magnificent walled port city of Dubrovnik, where a private on-board lecture by Croatia’s former Minister of Tourism precedes a full day spent exploring this medieval gem. With ancient buildings, squares, cobbled streets and fountains all created from the same beautifully cut stone, Dubrovnik’s entire Old Town has been preserved as a UNESCO World Heritage Site; discover the main square, the Dominican Monastery, the Rector’s Palace, Dubrovnik Synagogue and more on a walking tour. Then spend the rest of the day as you please, perhaps strolling along the city’s impressive ramparts overlooking the sea, or visiting its fine maritime museum.</description>
  <overnight>Cruising aboard Le Boreal</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="8">
  <title>The Treasures of Hvar</title>
  <description>A favorite sun-kissed playground of the rich and famous, the island of Hvar welcomes you with lush vineyards, aromatic fields of lavender, and cultural treasures destined to leave you enriched and inspired. Island exploration includes a tour of Hvar Town, home to intricately carved Venetian architecture. You’ll also see Spanjol Fortress, steeped in medieval charm; it is set high above the town with spectacular coastal views. The Dalmatian Coast produces some exceptional wine; enjoy a wine tasting to sample the fruits of Croatian vintners and return to Hvar Town for time at leisure.</description>
  <overnight>Cruising aboard Le Boreal</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="9">
  <title>Istria / Pula, Croatia</title>
  <description>Discoveries along the lovely Istrian peninsula, bordering Italy on Croatia’s northern Adriatic coast, begin in Pula, featuring impressive vestiges of Roman occupation; visit its 1st-century amphitheatre, considered the best preserved in the world. Later, take a guided walking tour of the fairy-tale village of Rovinj, one of the most-photographed spots in Croatia. Please join us this evening for farewell cocktails and dinner as Le Boreal returns to Venice.</description>
  <overnight>Cruising aboard Le Boreal</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="10">
  <title>Disembark Ship / Journey Home</title>
  <description>Tour ends: 9:00 AM at Venice’s Marco Polo Airport. Disembark Le Boreal for an 8:30 AM coach transfer from the dock to Marco Polo Airport. Allow a minimum of 21/2 hours for check-in at the airport.</description>
  <overnight></overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast</meals>
</itineraryDay>
  </itineraryDetails>
  <highlights>
		
				
						
7-Night Cruise on Le Levant ~ Venice ~ Split ~ Hvar ~ Dubrovnik ~ Korcula 
</highlights>
  <tauckValues>
    <value order="1">All gratuities to Tauck Director, ship staff and local guides</value><value order="2">Cruise aboard the new yacht Le Boreal, debuting in May of 2010</value><value order="3">Private Tauck Shore Excursions  $725 Value!</value><value order="4">In-depth visits to five UNESCO World Heritage Sites, Venice, Dubrovnik, Sibeniks Cathedral, the walled city of Kotor, and Diocletians Palace in Split</value><value order="5">Private Moreska folkloric entertainment, a wine tasting in Croatia, private lecture and more</value><value order="6">Cocktail hour, all-day soft drinks, wine with dinner aboard ship; most meals (9 breakfasts, 6 lunches, 8 dinners) on land and at sea</value><value order="7">Service charges, applicable fuel surcharges, taxes, porterage and airport transfers</value>
  </tauckValues>  
  <departureDates>
    <date>
    <day>16</day>
    <month>10</month>
    <year>2010</year>
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</cabin>
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  <occupancy>2</occupancy>
  <description>Deluxe Cabin - Deck 3</description>
  <suppliment>375</suppliment>
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  <occupancy>1</occupancy>
  <description>Prestige Cabin - Deck 4</description>
  <suppliment>975</suppliment>
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</cabin>
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  <categoryCode>DC 20103</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>2</occupancy>
  <description>Prestige Cabin - Deck 4</description>
  <suppliment>750</suppliment>
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  <categoryCode>DC 20104</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>1</occupancy>
  <description>Prestige Cabin - Deck 5</description>
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</cabin>
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  <occupancy>2</occupancy>
  <description>Prestige Cabin - Deck 5</description>
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</cabin>
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  <occupancy>1</occupancy>
  <description>Prestige Cabin - Deck 6</description>
  <suppliment>1463</suppliment>
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</cabin>
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  <categoryCode>DC 20105</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>2</occupancy>
  <description>Prestige Cabin - Deck 6</description>
  <suppliment>1125</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>6815</totalPrice>
</cabin>
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  <occupancy>1</occupancy>
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  <categoryCode>DC 20106</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>2</occupancy>
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  <categoryCode>DC 20107</categoryCode>
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  <suppliment>0</suppliment>
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<cabin>
  <categoryCode>DC 20107</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>2</occupancy>
  <description>Prestige Suite - Deck 5</description>
  <suppliment>2995</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>8685</totalPrice>
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  <categoryCode>DC 20107</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>3</occupancy>
  <description>Prestige Suite - Deck 5</description>
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  <categoryCode>DC 20108</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>1</occupancy>
  <description>Prestige Suite - Deck 6</description>
  <suppliment>0</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>6075</totalPrice>
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<cabin>
  <categoryCode>DC 20108</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>2</occupancy>
  <description>Prestige Suite - Deck 6</description>
  <suppliment>3370</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>9060</totalPrice>
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<cabin>
  <categoryCode>DC 20108</categoryCode>
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</tour><tour>
  <sourceId>EG2010</sourceId>
  <title>Peru and the Galápagos Islands </title>
  <summary>
    <![CDATA[From the &quot;Lost City of the Incas,&quot; Machu Picchu, to legends of the Spanish Conquistadors and the amazing wildlife of the Galápagos archipelago, this Galápagos cruise and Peru tour is without comparison.
]]>
  </summary>
  <description>
    <![CDATA[This active adventure combines the ancient empire of the Incas with the timeless natural world of the Galápagos Islands. A highlight of your Galápagos cruise and Peru tour is a visit to the mysterious ruins of Machu Picchu, the spectacular Lost City of the Incas - and one of the must-see destinations on earth. Embark on a memorable cruise aboard one of the finest expeditionary-style yachts in the Galápagos for amazing wildlife viewing and an opportunity to get up close to giant Galápagos tortoises, blue-footed boobies, sea lions, marine iguanas, and penguins. Meet Peruvian pasos on a Peruvian ranch, see a weaving demonstration at a local farm, and visit a private home in Cusco, followed by an overnight stay next to the magical ruins. At the end of your Peru tour, cruise the extraordinary waters of the Galápagos.
]]>
  </description>
  <link>http://www.tauck.com/tours/latin-america/peru-tour-eg-2010</link>
  <durationDays>16</durationDays>
  <durationDetails>16 days and 15 nights.</durationDetails>
  <tripType>ESCORTED_TOUR</tripType>
  <brand>TauckAtSea</brand>
  <subbrand>Exotics</subbrand>
  <gradeRating>ALL_AGES</gradeRating>
  <comfortRating>COMFORTABLE_MIXED</comfortRating>
  <startingLocation>Lima, Peru</startingLocation>
  <prices>
    <price currency="USD">7890</price>
    <priceDetails><![CDATA[All prices are per person in U.S. dollars. ]]></priceDetails>
  </prices>
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  <itinerary>
    <![CDATA[• = cruise day

Flying to Peru &amp; the Galápagos Islands

You may want to consider traveling to Lima a day early to avoid jet lag. Tauck can book your international flights for travel originating in the United States and make hotel arrangements at the Miraflores Park Hotel in Lima before your tour begins. Ask at booking for details.

1. Arrive Lima
Tour begins: Miraflores Park Hotel. A transfer is included from Lima’s Jorge Chavez Int’l Airport to the Miraflores Park Hotel. Once considered the most beautiful colonial settlement in the New World, Lima chronicles its rich history in Renaissance churches, palaces, mansions and exclusive neighborhoods like Miraflores where your five-star hotel enjoys a premier oceanfront location. 

2. Discover Life in Lima 
Get a glimpse of life in the “City of Kings” today. View the world’s largest private collection of pre-Columbian art at the Museo Larco, housed in an 18th-century colonial mansion, and meet smooth-gaited Peruvian pasos during a visit to a horse ranch. Sightseeing continues back in Lima when we take you inside San Pedro Church, built in 1638, to see its gold-leafed Baroque altars and “La Abuelita,” the oldest bell in Peru. Join us tonight for a welcome cocktail reception and dinner with your fellow travelers. Meals BLD

3. Sacred Valley of the Incas
Rise early for a flight to Cusco, the place to begin your in-depth exploration of Incan culture. A weaving demonstration at a local farm showcases colorful traditions that have been handed down through the centuries, followed by a close-up look at another enduring vestige of ancient Peru, the mighty fortress of Ollantaytambo. Your accommodations feature spectacular views in an enchanted garden setting. Meals BLD

4. Explore Machu Picchu
Visit a private home before boarding a Vistadome train for a rail journey back in time to endlessly fascinating Machu Picchu. Revealing so much more than the ruins you’ll see before you, your guided tour with a local expert includes insights and stories that make the spiritual history of this sacred Inca citadel come alive. Spend the night at the sought-after Machu Picchu Sanctuary Lodge, located close to the entrance of this mystical site. Meals BLD

5. Machu Picchu / Cusco
Take the opportunity to explore the ruins again on an early morning visit – then join us on an excursion to a local market in Aguas Calientes. A return train trip aboard the Vistadome brings you back to colonial Cusco for a two-night stay at a lavishly restored historic monastery. Meals BLD

6. Discover Colonial Cusco
Sightseeing of ancient stone ruins and city landmarks is balanced with time at leisure today for you to enjoy the remainder of your Cusco stay, your way. Meals B

7. Fly to Guayaquil, Ecuador
Fly to Guayaquil via Lima for an anticipated mid-afternoon arrival and a sightseeing tour. The largest city in Ecuador, tropical Guayaquil serves as the perfect gateway for your upcoming 7-night Galápagos Islands cruise. Meals BD

8. • Cruising Begins in the Galápagos
Your morning flight touches down on Baltra Island; it is the gateway for your cruise to the islands time forgot aboard your expedition ship, Isabela II. Cast off for North Seymour Island, where our expert naturalists take you on your first shore excursion this afternoon aboard the ship’s Zodiac-style pangas; blue-footed boobies, sea lions and marine iguanas welcome you ashore with natural curiosity. Meals BLD

9. • Wet &amp; Dry Landings at Hood Island
Get fitted for your snorkeling gear this morning because today you’ll meet island natives who frolic atop – and under – the waters of Hood Island. Ride aboard glass-bottom boats and pangas today as you cruise to Gardner Bay for snorkeling and swimming. A challenging afternoon walk on lava terrain at Punta Suárez ends the day’s discoveries. Meals BLD

10. • Explore Floreana Island
Prepare to get wet when we go ashore at Punta Cormorant today for swimming, snorkeling and kayaking. Look for ducks and flamingoes in the island’s wildlife-rich lagoon. Bring your postcards with you for a wet landing at historic Post Office Bay; mail them, sailor style. Meals BLD

11. • Santa Cruz Island
Santa Cruz is home to daisy-tree forests, endemic cactus, volcanic craters, tortoises, a bustling town and the Charles Darwin Research Station. Spend the day exploring the sights with a naturalist, seeing the island’s iconic giant tortoises in the wild and up close at the Darwin station. Meals BLD

12. • The Birds of Tower Island
An active day of deep-water snorkeling, kayaking and swimming at Tower Island, known for its abundant birds, reveals large colonies of Nazca boobies, frigate birds, and storm petrels. Climb up Prince Philip’s Steps on the eastern side of the island to see nesting birds. Meals BLD

13. • Isabela &amp; Fernandina Islands
Ask for an early wake up call to look for whales in Bolivar Channel en route to Isabela Island. A panga ride to Tagus Cove views Darwin Crater and helps you find the ideal spot for snorkeling. Cruise to Fernandina Island for a one-mile shore hike amidst marine iguanas, sea lions and Sally Lightfoot crabs. Cross the Equator with champagne! Meals BLD

14. • James &amp; Bartolomé Islands
It’s a wet landing today on James Island for a walk atop lava flows to see resident wildlife, from iguanas to fur seals. A panga ride around Pinnacle Rock precedes a hike to the summit of Bartolomé Island – 365 steps up! Meals BLD

15. Fly to Guayaquil
Fly back to Guayaquil today. Enjoy free time at the hotel before joining us for our farewell dinner. Meals BD

16. Journey Home
Tour ends: Guayaquil. A transfer is included from the Hilton Colón Guayaquil to Guayaquil International Airport; allow 
2 1/2 hours for flight check-in. Meals B

Note: This is an active journey requiring a fair amount of walking, often on uneven terrain and climbing in and out of Zodiac-style panga boats; several days touring at elevations up to 11,200 ft. in hot and humid weather can be strenuous and challenging.

]]>
  </itinerary>
  <itineraryDetails>
    <itineraryDay day="1">
  <title>Arrive Lima</title>
  <description>Tour begins: Miraflores Park Hotel.  A transfer is included from Lima&apos;s Jorge Chavez Int&apos;l Airport to the Miraflores Park Hotel.  Once considered the most beautiful colonial settlement in the New World, Lima chronicles its rich history in Renaissance churches, palaces, mansions and exclusive neighborhoods like Miraflores where your five&amp;#45;star hotel enjoys a premier oceanfront location.</description>
  <overnight>Miraflores Park Hotel, Lima, Peru</overnight>
  <meals></meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="2">
  <title>Discover Life in Lima </title>
  <description>Get a glimpse of life in the “City of Kings” today.  View the world&apos;s largest private collection of pre&amp;#45;Columbian art at the Museo Larco, housed in an 18th&amp;#45;century colonial mansion, and meet smooth&amp;#45;gaited Peruvian pasos during a visit to a horse ranch.  Sightseeing continues back in Lima when we take you inside San Pedro Church, built in 1638, to see its gold&amp;#45;leafed Baroque altars and “La Abuelita,” the oldest bell in Peru.  Join us tonight for a welcome cocktail reception and dinner with your fellow travelers.  Meals BLD</description>
  <overnight>Miraflores Park Hotel, Lima, Peru</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="3">
  <title>Sacred Valley of the Incas</title>
  <description>Rise early for a flight to Cusco, the place to begin your in&amp;#45;depth exploration of Incan culture.  A weaving demonstration at a local farm showcases colorful traditions that have been handed down through the centuries, followed by a close&amp;#45;up look at another enduring vestige of ancient Peru, the mighty fortress of Ollantaytambo.  Your accommodations feature spectacular views in an enchanted garden setting.  Meals BLD</description>
  <overnight>Sol &amp; Luna Lodge &amp; Spa or Casa Andina Private Collection, Yucay Valley, Peru</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="4">
  <title>Explore Machu Picchu</title>
  <description>Visit a private home before boarding a Vistadome train for a rail journey back in time to endlessly fascinating Machu Picchu.  Revealing so much more than the ruins you&apos;ll see before you, your guided tour with a local expert includes insights and stories that make the spiritual history of this sacred Inca citadel come alive.  Spend the night at the sought&amp;#45;after Machu Picchu Sanctuary Lodge, located close to the entrance of this mystical site.  Meals BLD</description>
  <overnight>Machu Picchu Sanctuary Lodge, Aguas Calientes, Peru</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="5">
  <title>Machu Picchu / Cusco</title>
  <description>Take the opportunity to explore the ruins again on an early morning visit &amp;#45; then join us on an excursion to a local market in Aguas Calientes.  A return train trip aboard the Vistadome brings you back to colonial Cusco for a two&amp;#45;night stay at a lavishly restored historic monastery.  Meals BLD</description>
  <overnight>Hotel Monasterio, Cusco, Peru</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="6">
  <title>Discover Colonial Cusco</title>
  <description>Sightseeing of ancient stone ruins and city landmarks is balanced with time at leisure today for you to enjoy the remainder of your Cusco stay, your way.  Meals B</description>
  <overnight>Hotel Monasterio, Cusco, Peru</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="7">
  <title>Fly to Guayaquil, Ecuador</title>
  <description>Fly to Guayaquil via Lima for an anticipated mid&amp;#45;afternoon arrival and a sightseeing tour.  The largest city in Ecuador, tropical Guayaquil serves as the perfect gateway for your upcoming 7&amp;#45;night Gal&amp;#225;pagos Islands cruise.  Meals BD</description>
  <overnight>Hilton Colón Guayaquil, Ecuador</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="8">
  <title>• Cruising Begins in the Gal&amp;#225;pagos</title>
  <description>Your morning flight touches down on Baltra Island; it is the gateway for your cruise to the islands time forgot aboard your expedition ship, Isabela II.  Cast off for North Seymour Island, where our expert naturalists take you on your first shore excursion this afternoon aboard the ship&apos;s Zodiac&amp;#45;style pangas; blue&amp;#45;footed boobies, sea lions and marine iguanas welcome you ashore with natural curiosity.  Meals BLD</description>
  <overnight>Cruising aboard Isabela II, Galápagos Islands</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="9">
  <title>• Wet &amp; Dry Landings at Hood Island</title>
  <description>Get fitted for your snorkeling gear this morning because today you&apos;ll meet island natives who frolic atop &amp;#45; and under &amp;#45; the waters of Hood Island.  Ride aboard glass&amp;#45;bottom boats and pangas today as you cruise to Gardner Bay for snorkeling and swimming.  A challenging afternoon walk on lava terrain at Punta Su&amp;#225;rez ends the day&apos;s discoveries.  Meals BLD</description>
  <overnight>Cruising aboard Isabela II, Galápagos Islands</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="10">
  <title>• Explore Floreana Island</title>
  <description>Prepare to get wet when we go ashore at Punta Cormorant today for swimming, snorkeling and kayaking.  Look for ducks and flamingoes in the island&apos;s wildlife&amp;#45;rich lagoon.  Bring your postcards with you for a wet landing at historic Post Office Bay; mail them, sailor style.  Meals BLD</description>
  <overnight>Cruising aboard Isabela II, Galápagos Islands</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="11">
  <title>• Santa Cruz Island</title>
  <description>Santa Cruz is home to daisy&amp;#45;tree forests, endemic cactus, volcanic craters, tortoises, a bustling town and the Charles Darwin Research Station.  Spend the day exploring the sights with a naturalist, seeing the island&apos;s iconic giant tortoises in the wild and up close at the Darwin station.  Meals BLD</description>
  <overnight>Cruising aboard Isabela II, Galápagos Islands</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="12">
  <title>• The Birds of Tower Island</title>
  <description>An active day of deep&amp;#45;water snorkeling, kayaking and swimming at Tower Island, known for its abundant birds, reveals large colonies of Nazca boobies, frigate birds, and storm petrels.  Climb up Prince Philip&apos;s Steps on the eastern side of the island to see nesting birds.  Meals BLD</description>
  <overnight>Cruising aboard Isabela II, Galápagos Islands</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="13">
  <title>• Isabela &amp; Fernandina Islands</title>
  <description>Ask for an early wake up call to look for whales in Bolivar Channel en route to Isabela Island.  A panga ride to Tagus Cove views Darwin Crater and helps you find the ideal spot for snorkeling.  Cruise to Fernandina Island for a one&amp;#45;mile shore hike amidst marine iguanas, sea lions and Sally Lightfoot crabs.  Cross the Equator with champagne! Meals BLD</description>
  <overnight>Cruising aboard Isabela II, Galápagos Islands</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="14">
  <title>• James &amp; Bartolom&amp;#233; Islands</title>
  <description>It&apos;s a wet landing today on James Island for a walk atop lava flows to see resident wildlife, from iguanas to fur seals.  A panga ride around Pinnacle Rock precedes a hike to the summit of Bartolom&amp;#233; Island &amp;#45; 365 steps up! Meals BLD</description>
  <overnight>Cruising aboard Isabela II, Galápagos Islands</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="15">
  <title>Fly to Guayaquil</title>
  <description>Fly back to Guayaquil today.  Enjoy free time at the hotel before joining us for our farewell dinner.  Meals BD</description>
  <overnight>Hilton Colón Guayaquil, Ecuador</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="16">
  <title>Journey Home</title>
  <description>Tour ends: Guayaquil. A transfer is included from the Hilton Colón Guayaquil to Guayaquil International Airport; allow 2 1/2 hours for flight check-in.
Note: This is an active journey requiring a fair amount of walking, often on uneven terrain and climbing in and out of Zodiac-style panga boats; several days touring at elevations up to 11,200 ft. in hot and humid weather can be strenuous and challenging.
&amp;nbsp;
 
</description>
  <overnight></overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast</meals>
</itineraryDay>
  </itineraryDetails>
  <highlights>
		

7-Night Cruise ~ Machu Picchu ~ Lima ~ Cusco ~ Sacred Valley ~ Guayaquil 
</highlights>
  <tauckValues>
    <value order="1">All gratuities to Tauck Director and ship staff</value><value order="2">8 nights&apos; hotel accommodations, most meals and guided sightseeing in Lima, Cusco, and Machu Picchu in Peru, and Guayaquil in Ecuador</value><value order="3">7-Night Galpagos Cruise aboard the expedition ship, Isabela II  only 40 guests</value><value order="4">Private Tauck Shore Excursions in the Galpagos  averaging two daily  with expert naturalist guides; entrance fee to Galpagos National Park included</value><value order="5">Scenic train journeys to and from Machu Picchu where you&apos;ll stay at Machu Picchu Sanctuary Lodge</value><value order="6">Lunch at a Peruvian horse ranch; dinner at a historic mansion in Lima</value><value order="7">Two nights accommodations at a 5-star, restored 16th-century monastery in Cusco</value><value order="8">Cocktail hour, all-day soft drinks, wine with dinner aboard ship</value><value order="9">39 meals (15 breakfasts, 11 lunches, 13 dinners)</value><value order="10">Airport transfers, service charges, and porterage</value>
  </tauckValues>  
  
</tour><tour>
  <sourceId>EJ2010</sourceId>
  <title>Essence of Japan</title>
  <summary>
    <![CDATA[		

Traditional arts, tranquil gardens, colorful pagodas, and ancient shrines are just some of the Japan travel experiences on Tauck&apos;s comprehensive vacation that takes in Kyoto and Tokyo, as well as off-the-beaten-track villages in the countryside.
]]>
  </summary>
  <description>
    <![CDATA[		


Tauck&apos;s Japan travel experience reveals the essence of Japan through its temples, shrines, Shinto gates, feudal castles, and perfectly preserved villages. In Tauck&apos;s Japan travel on the fascinating island of Honshu to off-the-beaten-path spots, UNESCO World Heritage Sites, and the vibrant cites of Tokyo and Kyoto for a full cultural immersion. Experience ancient traditions firsthand when you stay in a ryokan-style hotel, attend a tea ceremony, and soak in hot spring baths. Tour legendary samurai residences and the Geisha district. Tauck&apos;s Japan travel experience includes a variety of transportation modes, ensuring the best way to see the best of each destination. Ride the Bullet Train and a boat across a lake. See the Great Buddha, thatched-roof gassho-zukuri farmhouses, serene gardens, and priceless art treasures.
]]>
  </description>
  <link>http://www.tauck.com/tours/asia-travel/japan-travel-ej-2010</link>
  <durationDays>12</durationDays>
  <durationDetails>12 days and 11 nights.</durationDetails>
  <tripType>ESCORTED_TOUR</tripType>
  <brand>TWD</brand>
  <subbrand>Exotics</subbrand>
  <gradeRating>ALL_AGES</gradeRating>
  <comfortRating>COMFORTABLE_MIXED</comfortRating>
  <startingLocation>Tokyo, Japan</startingLocation>
  <prices>
    <price currency="USD">5990</price>
    <priceDetails><![CDATA[All prices are per person in U.S. dollars. ]]></priceDetails>
  </prices>
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  <itinerary>
    <![CDATA[Flying to Japan 
To ease the effects of jet lag, please consider traveling to Tokyo, Japan, a day early. Tauck can book your international flights for travel originating in the United States, including arranging an additional night at the Hotel Seiyo Ginza, giving you time to rest and relax before your journey begins. Ask for details upon booking.

1. Arrive Tokyo 
Tour begins: Hotel Seiyo Ginza at 6:30 PM. A transfer is included from Tokyo Narita Airport and Hacenda Airport to the Hotel Seiyo Ginza for your three-night stay in the heart of Tokyo. Designed to reflect the hospitality of an elegant private home, your accommodations are ideally located in Ginza. Meet your fellow travelers at our welcome dinner. Meals D

2. Discover the Sights of Tokyo 
Tokyo is a visual feast of centuries-old traditions and modern-day sophistication. Past meets present today as Tauck hosts you on a guided city sightseeing excursion that includes the Imperial Palace, Edo Tokyo Museum, Asakusa Kannon Temple and the Nakamise Shopping Arcade. Get an authentic taste of life in this dynamic city at a hands-on sushi-making demonstration at lunch. Meals BL

3. Dancing at Meiji Shrine / Ginza
No matter how fast-paced and trendy, life in Tokyo reflects a reverence for cultural traditions than transcends generations. You’ll experience it when you take off your shoes for a visit inside the Meiji Shrine today, honoring the spirits of the Emperor Meiji and his Empress Shoken with eternal serenity and tranquil manicured gardens. You’ll hear it at a special performance showcasing age-old Shinto music with the ancient Kagura dance. You’ll feel it when you stroll through the streets of Ginza, where the latest designer goods are sold by kimono-clad shopkeepers who bow their greetings to you. And you’ll taste it during tonight’s dinner at a Japanese restaurant renowned for serving time-honored culinary dishes and a mix of more modern fare. Meals BLD

4. Fuji-Hakone National Park
Speed into the countryside aboard Japan’s renowned Bullet Train, the Shinkansen, reputed to be Asia’s fastest train, to a a place where time slows down. Your destination is the hilly hot-springs town of Hakone in Fuji-Hakone National Park, bursting with scenic beauty and natural treasures. Visit the Hakone Open-Air Museum to view its harmonious collection of sculpture from the post-Rodin period and art by Pablo Picasso, Renoir and Miro. Cruise the waters of sparkling Lake Ashi – weather permitting, savor a glimpse of Mt. Fuji – and experience a gondola ride on the Hakone Ropeway over the mountains. Continue on to your hotel. The Hyatt Regency Hakone Resort &amp; Spa boasts panoramic views of historic Gora Valley and is well known for its onsens (hot springs). Meals BLD

5. Hakone / Japanese Alps
An early morning departure takes you on a drive through the Alps of Japan, towering some 9,000 feet over the landscapes below. Rice farms dominate the valleys, while lush forests blanket the mountains. Visit the Itchiku Kubota Museum, showcasing Japanese textiles and kimonos of the artist after whom the museum is named, and tour beautiful Matsumoto Castle. Continue on to your mountain resort in the 16th-century town of Takayama where a multi-course regional feast awaits at dinner tonight. Meals BLD

6. Historic Takayama 
Takayama is renowned for its remarkably preserved Edo-period merchants’ shops and houses, quaint village streets and sake. Take a walking tour of the town, visiting the farmers’ morning market, the Festival Float Museum and the historic Takayama Jinya. There are more than 2,000 different brands of sake produced throughout Japan. Taste a representative sampling today when you visit a local sake brewery. The remainder of the day is free; there are wonderful museums, boutiques and antique shops to explore, bikes to ride and hot springs to relax in. Dine as you please for lunch and dinner. Meals B

7. Shirakawa-go / Ryokan
Journey into the mountains to Shirakawa-go, a UNESCO World Heritage Site that is well known for its villages of thatched gassho-zukuri (praying hands) farmhouses. Visit a private 300-year-old family home and stroll through the historic village of Ogimachi, the largest village with 59 intact gassho houses. Continue north past picturesque fishing villages and farms to your Japanese ryokan-style hotel, embodying both luxury and simplicity. Become immersed in an array of Japanese customs while you are here; soak in rejuvenating communal baths; don traditional dress for a typical dinner and sleep atop a futon. Meals BLD

8. Kanazawa / Kyoto
Learn about rice farming from a local farmer when you go inside his private home en route to Kanazawa today, a great opportunity to continue discovering the essence of Japan! Kanazawa welcomes you with winding cobblestone streets, samurai residences, Geisha houses, museums, gardens, a flower-filled open-air market – and a tempura lunch compliments of Tauck. Walk it off on a stroll through Kenroku-en Garden, ranked among the country’s top three gardens; translated, its name means “a refined garden incorporating six attributes: spaciousness, careful arrangement, seclusion, antiquity, elaborate use of water and scenic charm.” Samurais have made their homes in this village since the Edo Period; see how these exalted Japanese warriors lived back then when you visit the family of the Nomura Samurai House – don’t forget to remove your shoes upon entering. Then it’s off to explore the 300-year-old Omicho Market, a feast for the senses with 200 stalls selling seafood, vegetables, and fruit. Leave the sea-swept Noto Peninsula behind when you board a train for your journey south to Kyoto, the former capital of Japan for 1,000 years. Spend the next four nights at The Westin Miyako, Kyoto. Located amidst a tranquil garden setting in the heart of the city, your accommodations put you within easy walking distance of major sights. Meals BLD

9. Enchanting Kyoto
A full day of city sightseeing begins with a visit to Kinkakuji Temple; this Golden Pavilion was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Explore Nijo Castle, best known for its ornate interiors and nightingale floors; built of Japanese cypress by the first Tokugawa shogun in 1603, it is a wonderful example of Momoyama architecture. Have dinner on your own tonight; Kyoto offers an abundance of fine restaurants to choose from with a diverse array of international cuisine. Meals BL

10. Temples of Tranquil Nara
Tour Sanjusangendo Temple, home to 1,001 wooden cyprus statues of Kannon-Bosatsu dating back to the 13th century. Continue on to Nara, where you’ll savor an unforgettable glimpse of old Japan on visits to ancient temples, shrines and gardens and during lunch at a Japanese restaurant. See the Daibutsu (Great Buddha) at the Todai-ji Temple in Nara Park; at more than 50 feet high, the huge statue is the largest bronze Buddha in all of Japan. Stroll the wooded grounds of the stunning vermilion-colored Kasuga Grand Shrine, adorned with some 3,000 stone and bronze lanterns, before returning to Kyoto for free time. Meals BL

11. A Day at Leisure in Kyoto
Kyoto abounds with a rich legacy of ancient treasures, cultural gems and natural beauty that spans the centuries. “Take the plunge,” Kyoto-style, today on a visit to Kiyomizu Temple; the expression comes from the great views you will see from the cliff-top verandah off the main hall. Try your hand at calligraphy and Origami, the traditional Japanese art of paper folding, when you visit a private home for a tea ceremony with your local hosts. The afternoon is free for you to enjoy Kyoto as you wish. Join us for a special farewell dinner tonight featuring a memorable Geisha and Maiko (Geisha in training) performance, reflecting the true essence of Japanese culture. Meals BD

12. Journey Home
Tour ends: Osaka’s Kansai or Itami Airport. A transfer is included for the 1 1/2 hour trip from your hotel in Kyoto to the airports in Osaka; allow a minimum of 21/2 hours for flight check-in. Meals B

]]>
  </itinerary>
  <itineraryDetails>
    <itineraryDay day="1">
  <title>Arrive Tokyo </title>
  <description>Tour begins: Hotel Seiyo Ginza at 6:30 PM.  A transfer is included from Tokyo Narita Airport and Hacenda Airport to the Hotel Seiyo Ginza for your three&amp;#45;night stay in the heart of Tokyo.  Designed to reflect the hospitality of an elegant private home, your accommodations are ideally located in Ginza.  Meet your fellow travelers at our welcome dinner.  Meals D</description>
  <overnight>Hotel Seiyo Ginza, Tokyo</overnight>
  <meals>Dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="2">
  <title>Discover the Sights of Tokyo </title>
  <description>Tokyo is a visual feast of centuries&amp;#45;old traditions and modern&amp;#45;day sophistication.  Past meets present today as Tauck hosts you on a guided city sightseeing excursion that includes the Imperial Palace, Edo Tokyo Museum, Asakusa Kannon Temple and the Nakamise Shopping Arcade.  Get an authentic taste of life in this dynamic city at a hands&amp;#45;on sushi&amp;#45;making demonstration at lunch.  Meals BL</description>
  <overnight>Hotel Seiyo Ginza, Tokyo</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="3">
  <title>Dancing at Meiji Shrine / Ginza</title>
  <description>No matter how fast&amp;#45;paced and trendy, life in Tokyo reflects a reverence for cultural traditions than transcends generations.  You&apos;ll experience it when you take off your shoes for a visit inside the Meiji Shrine today, honoring the spirits of the Emperor Meiji and his Empress Shoken with eternal serenity and tranquil manicured gardens.  You&apos;ll hear it at a special performance showcasing age&amp;#45;old Shinto music with the ancient Kagura dance.  You&apos;ll feel it when you stroll through the streets of Ginza, where the latest designer goods are sold by kimono&amp;#45;clad shopkeepers who bow their greetings to you.  And you&apos;ll taste it during tonight&apos;s dinner at a Japanese restaurant renowned for serving time&amp;#45;honored culinary dishes and a mix of more modern fare.  Meals BLD</description>
  <overnight>Hotel Seiyo Ginza, Tokyo</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="4">
  <title>Fuji&amp;#45;Hakone National Park</title>
  <description>Speed into the countryside aboard Japan&apos;s renowned Bullet Train, the Shinkansen, reputed to be Asia&apos;s fastest train, to a a place where time slows down.  Your destination is the hilly hot&amp;#45;springs town of Hakone in Fuji&amp;#45;Hakone National Park, bursting with scenic beauty and natural treasures.  Visit the Hakone Open&amp;#45;Air Museum to view its harmonious collection of sculpture from the post&amp;#45;Rodin period and art by Pablo Picasso, Renoir and Miro.  Cruise the waters of sparkling Lake Ashi &amp;#45; weather permitting, savor a glimpse of Mt.  Fuji &amp;#45; and experience a gondola ride on the Hakone Ropeway over the mountains.  Continue on to your hotel.  The Hyatt Regency Hakone Resort &amp; Spa boasts panoramic views of historic Gora Valley and is well known for its onsens (hot springs).  Meals BLD</description>
  <overnight>Hyatt Regency Hakone Resort &amp; Spa, Hakone</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="5">
  <title>Hakone / Japanese Alps</title>
  <description>An early morning departure takes you on a drive through the Alps of Japan, towering some 9,000 feet over the landscapes below.  Rice farms dominate the valleys, while lush forests blanket the mountains.  Visit the Itchiku Kubota Museum, showcasing Japanese textiles and kimonos of the artist after whom the museum is named, and tour beautiful Matsumoto Castle.  Continue on to your mountain resort in the 16th&amp;#45;century town of Takayama where a multi&amp;#45;course regional feast awaits at dinner tonight.  Meals BLD</description>
  <overnight>Hotel Associa Takayama Resort, Takayama</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="6">
  <title>Historic Takayama </title>
  <description>Takayama is renowned for its remarkably preserved Edo&amp;#45;period merchants&apos; shops and houses, quaint village streets and sake.  Take a walking tour of the town, visiting the farmers&apos; morning market, the Festival Float Museum and the historic Takayama Jinya.  There are more than 2,000 different brands of sake produced throughout Japan.  Taste a representative sampling today when you visit a local sake brewery.  The remainder of the day is free; there are wonderful museums, boutiques and antique shops to explore, bikes to ride and hot springs to relax in.  Dine as you please for lunch and dinner.  Meals B</description>
  <overnight>Hotel Associa Takayama Resort, Takayama</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="7">
  <title>Shirakawa&amp;#45;go / Ryokan</title>
  <description>Journey into the mountains to Shirakawa&amp;#45;go, a UNESCO World Heritage Site that is well known for its villages of thatched gassho&amp;#45;zukuri (praying hands) farmhouses.  Visit a private 300&amp;#45;year&amp;#45;old family home and stroll through the historic village of Ogimachi, the largest village with 59 intact gassho houses.  Continue north past picturesque fishing villages and farms to your Japanese ryokan&amp;#45;style hotel, embodying both luxury and simplicity.  Become immersed in an array of Japanese customs while you are here; soak in rejuvenating communal baths; don traditional dress for a typical dinner and sleep atop a futon.  Meals BLD</description>
  <overnight>Kagaya Hotel, Wakura Onsen</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="8">
  <title>Kanazawa / Kyoto</title>
  <description>Learn about rice farming from a local farmer when you go inside his private home en route to Kanazawa today, a great opportunity to continue discovering the essence of Japan! Kanazawa welcomes you with winding cobblestone streets, samurai residences, Geisha houses, museums, gardens, a flower&amp;#45;filled open&amp;#45;air market &amp;#45; and a tempura lunch compliments of Tauck.  Walk it off on a stroll through Kenroku&amp;#45;en Garden, ranked among the country&apos;s top three gardens; translated, its name means “a refined garden incorporating six attributes: spaciousness, careful arrangement, seclusion, antiquity, elaborate use of water and scenic charm.” Samurais have made their homes in this village since the Edo Period; see how these exalted Japanese warriors lived back then when you visit the family of the Nomura Samurai House &amp;#45; don&apos;t forget to remove your shoes upon entering.  Then it&apos;s off to explore the 300&amp;#45;year&amp;#45;old Omicho Market, a feast for the senses with 200 stalls selling seafood, vegetables, and fruit.  Leave the sea&amp;#45;swept Noto Peninsula behind when you board a train for your journey south to Kyoto, the former capital of Japan for 1,000 years.  Spend the next four nights at The Westin Miyako, Kyoto.  Located amidst a tranquil garden setting in the heart of the city, your accommodations put you within easy walking distance of major sights.  Meals BLD</description>
  <overnight>The Westin Miyako, Kyoto</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="9">
  <title>Enchanting Kyoto</title>
  <description>A full day of city sightseeing begins with a visit to Kinkakuji Temple; this Golden Pavilion was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site.  Explore Nijo Castle, best known for its ornate interiors and nightingale floors; built of Japanese cypress by the first Tokugawa shogun in 1603, it is a wonderful example of Momoyama architecture.  Have dinner on your own tonight; Kyoto offers an abundance of fine restaurants to choose from with a diverse array of international cuisine.  Meals BL</description>
  <overnight>The Westin Miyako, Kyoto</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="10">
  <title>Temples of Tranquil Nara</title>
  <description>Tour Sanjusangendo Temple, home to 1,001 wooden cyprus statues of Kannon&amp;#45;Bosatsu dating back to the 13th century.  Continue on to Nara, where you&apos;ll savor an unforgettable glimpse of old Japan on visits to ancient temples, shrines and gardens and during lunch at a Japanese restaurant.  See the Daibutsu (Great Buddha) at the Todai&amp;#45;ji Temple in Nara Park; at more than 50 feet high, the huge statue is the largest bronze Buddha in all of Japan.  Stroll the wooded grounds of the stunning vermilion&amp;#45;colored Kasuga Grand Shrine, adorned with some 3,000 stone and bronze lanterns, before returning to Kyoto for free time.  Meals BL</description>
  <overnight>The Westin Miyako, Kyoto</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="11">
  <title>A Day at Leisure in Kyoto</title>
  <description>Kyoto abounds with a rich legacy of ancient treasures, cultural gems and natural beauty that spans the centuries.  “Take the plunge,” Kyoto&amp;#45;style, today on a visit to Kiyomizu Temple; the expression comes from the great views you will see from the cliff&amp;#45;top verandah off the main hall.  Try your hand at calligraphy and Origami, the traditional Japanese art of paper folding, when you visit a private home for a tea ceremony with your local hosts.  The afternoon is free for you to enjoy Kyoto as you wish.  Join us for a special farewell dinner tonight featuring a memorable Geisha and Maiko (Geisha in training) performance, reflecting the true essence of Japanese culture.  Meals BD</description>
  <overnight>The Westin Miyako, Kyoto</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="12">
  <title>Journey Home</title>
  <description>Tour ends: Osaka’s Kansai or Itami Airport. A transfer is included for the 1 1/2 hour trip from your hotel in Kyoto to the airports in Osaka; allow a minimum of 21/2 hours for flight check-in.</description>
  <overnight></overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast</meals>
</itineraryDay>
  </itineraryDetails>
  <highlights>		
Tokyo ~ Kyoto ~ Fuji-Hakone National Park ~ Shirakawa-go ~ Kanazawa ~ Nara 
</highlights>
  <tauckValues>
    <value order="1">Unique cultural experience at an authentic Japanese ryokan, featuring an overnight stay and a special dinner</value><value order="2">Private visit to a 300-year-old family home in Shirakawa-go, a UNESCO World Heritage Site</value><value order="3">Sushi-making experience and tasting in Tokyo</value><value order="4">Special Geisha and Maiko performance in Kyoto</value><value order="5">Exclusive insider look at a local home in Kyoto during a 4-night city stay, enriched with a calligraphy and Origami demonstration and a tea ceremony</value><value order="6">Journey aboard Japans famous Bullet Train, the Shinkansen, into Fuji-Hakone National Park</value><value order="7">Three nights at an exclusive Tokyo hotel in the heart of the chic district of Ginza, with guided city sightseeing</value><value order="8">26 meals (11 breakfasts, 8 lunches, 7 dinners) with gratuities to dining staff</value><value order="9">Gratuities to local guides, airport transfers, service charges, admissions fees, taxes and porterage</value>
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</tour><tour>
  <sourceId>EP2010</sourceId>
  <title>Egypt &amp; Jordan: Timeless Treasures, Ancient Lands</title>
  <summary>
    <![CDATA[Our two-week Egypt and Jordan tour combines a Nile River cruise and exploration of Egypt&apos;s antiquities with visits to Jordan&apos;s biblical sites, the Dead Sea and the amazing city of Petra.
]]>
  </summary>
  <description>
    <![CDATA[The mysteries of ancient Egypt and Jordan unfold before you on this 13-day journey of discovery to revered temples, tombs and monuments that tell a story of 5,000 years of civilization. From hotels with incredible views, to a 3-night River Nile cruise, to behind-the-scenes insights by local experts, Tauck&apos;s Egypt and Jordan tour is unlike any other in these historic lands.
]]>
  </description>
  <link>http://www.tauck.com/tours/africa-travel/jordan-tour-ep-2010</link>
  <durationDays>13</durationDays>
  <durationDetails>13 days and 12 nights.</durationDetails>
  <tripType>ESCORTED_TOUR</tripType>
  <brand>TWD</brand>
  <subbrand>Exotics</subbrand>
  <gradeRating>ALL_AGES</gradeRating>
  <comfortRating>COMFORTABLE_MIXED</comfortRating>
  <startingLocation>Cairo, Egypt</startingLocation>
  <prices>
    <price currency="USD">5475</price>
    <priceDetails><![CDATA[All prices are per person in U.S. dollars. ]]></priceDetails>
  </prices>
  <images>
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    <image>http://tools.tauck.com/Files/ItineraryImages/altImages/EP2010_alt2.jpg</image>
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  <itinerary>
    <![CDATA[• = Cruise Day

Flying to Tauck’s Egypt
Most international flights to Cairo arrive between 3:00 PM and 11:00 PM local time, which is 7 hours ahead of the United States’ Eastern Standard Time. To ease the effects of jet lag, you may want to consider traveling to Egypt a day early. Tauck can book your international flights for travel originating in the United States, including arranging an additional night at the Mena House Oberoi in Cairo for the evening before your tour begins, giving you plenty of time to rest and relax. Ask for details upon booking.

1. Arrive Cairo
Tour begins: Mena House Oberoi. Welcome to Egypt; a transfer is included from Cairo International Airport to Mena House Oberoi, a sumptuous former royal hunting lodge close to the Pyramids of Giza. You’ll have no doubt you’ve embarked on an unforgettable journey when you look out from your room... and see the Pyramids there before you!

2. Sphinx &amp; Pyramids of Giza / Solar Boat 
At Giza, the incomparable Sphinx sits near the magnificent Great Pyramid of Cheops (Khufu), the only survivor among the “Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.” And you’ll see them both today, plus have your photo taken while riding a camel* at the Pyramids. Check out an Egyptian cedarwood boat – remarkably well preserved after 4,500 years buried in the sand – at Giza’s Solar Boat Museum. Join us this evening for a welcome reception followed by dinner at your hotel, ideally set in the shadow of the Pyramids. Meals BLD

3. Egyptian Museum / Old Cairo
Gain insights on the changing face of this ancient country during a morning lecture on modern Egyptian history by a local expert. Voices of the past seem to come from the host of rare artifacts – including treasures from King Tutankhamun’s tomb – representing 5,000 years of Egyptian history at Cairo’s Egyptian Museum; your visit to the mummy collection is eerily amazing! On a walk through Old Cairo with a local guide, visit a mosque before exploring the bazaar at your leisure. Tonight’s spectacular sound and light show, set against the Pyramids and the Sphinx in Giza, is dazzling and awe-inspiring! Meals BL

4. Memphis / Sakkara / Dahshur
Take a good look at some of Egypt’s oldest antiquities on an excursion from Cairo to ancient Memphis, the first capital of the “Old Kingdom” of Upper and Lower Egypt; see the statue of Ramesses II and the Alabaster Sphinx. Learn how ancient pyramid design developed in Sakkara when you view the early Step Pyramid of Djoser and visit the mound-like Pyramid of Teti, along with the royal tombs of the remote necropolis of Dahshur. Meals BLD

5. Abu Simbel / Sahara / • Embark Ship
Fly via private charter to visit the archaeological site of Abu Simbel, where the gigantic temples of Ramesses II and his wife, Queen Nefertari, dwarf you and fellow visitors. Travel through the Sahara Desert to Aswan – stopping for a look at one of the world’s great engineering feats, the Aswan High Dam – and board the Nile Adventurer for your three-night Nile cruise. Disembark for a private boat ride to see the Philae Temple before returning to the ship for tonight’s welcome dinner aboard the Nile Adventurer, hosted by the Captain. Meals BLD

6. • Nile Cruise / Kom Ombo / Edfu
Glimpse life along the Nile’s banks from the decks of the Nile Adventurer as you sail to Kom Ombo for a guided visit to its unusual double temple and tea at a replica of a Nubian village. Continue on to Edfu and the Temple of Horus, one of the best preserved in Egypt, whose detailed walls are a textbook of mythology and history. Get set for a special evening aboard ship tonight – including a private galley tour and cooking demonstration, an Egyptian Night dinner for which you’ll don traditional Egyptian garb, and after-dinner music and dancing as the Nile Adventurer cruises to Luxor. Meals BLD

7. • Luxor Temples / Carriage Ride
A remarkable day awaits you in Luxor, site of the ancient Egyptian city of Thebes and an extraordinary “open-air museum.” After an on-board lecture, our expert Egyptologist leads you through visits to the Temple of Karnak and the Luxor Museum to view treasures of Upper Egypt. A private horse-drawn carriage whisks you to a tour of the Temple of Luxor – spectacularly lit at night – before you return to the Nile Adventurer for your final night aboard, featuring farewell cocktails, dinner and a folkloric show. Meals BLD

8. Valleys of the Kings &amp; Queens
Disembark Nile Adventurer in Luxor and head to the Valley of the Kings; step into another world as you enter the actual tombs of King Tutankhamun and several other pharaohs! Continue on to the Valley of the Queens and Medinet Habu. Tonight, enjoy wine, beer and snacks aboard a traditional felucca at sunset, then dinner à la carte at the hotel in Luxor, where your balconied room overlooks the Nile. Meals BLD

9. Fly to Jordan / Wadi Rum Excursion
After a private charter flight to the Red Sea resort city of Aqaba, Jordan, Tauck takes you on an excursion to Wadi Rum, home to some of the most stunning desert landscapes on earth. Exploring these beautiful, lunar-like dunes and towering sandstone cliffs by four-wheel-drive vehicle is an absolutely unforgettable experience! Journey through the desert to the iconic archaeological site of Petra. Meals BLD

10. Incredible Petra / Bedouin Family Visit
A passage through a narrow canyon called the Siq leads to yet another breathtaking moment – your first glimpse of the ancient Nabataean city of Petra, carved out of the sandstone cliffs around 6 BC. Explore Petra’s fascinating sites both on foot and via horse cart, including the 130-foot-high Khazneh (The Treasury), the Royal Tombs, and an amphitheatre that once seated 8,000, and numerous temples and tombs. Later, you’ll visit the private home of a Bedouin family, then have dinner at a restored hilltop Bedouin village. Meals BLD

11. Along the Jordan to the Dead Sea
Thousands of years of biblical history reveal themselves along the 5,000-year-old Kings’ Highway from Petra to sites on the east bank of the River Jordan associated with stories in both the Old and New Testaments. Begin with Bethany beyond the Jordan, identified as the place where Jesus was baptized by John the Baptist. Pass Mt. Nebo, try traditional Jordanian foods for lunch, and visit St. George’s Church in Madaba to view a 6th-century mosaic map of biblical sites en route to your spa resort on the Dead Sea. Meals BLD

12. Resort Relaxation / Jerash Excursion
Spend a relaxing day at your Dead Sea resort or set off on an excursion to Jerash, site of one of the best-preserved ancient Roman cities in the Middle East. Wander among its fine examples of Roman temples, arches, theatres, baths, and city walls. Tonight, cap your unforgettable journey with a festive farewell reception and dinner. Meals BLD

13. Journey Home
Tour ends: Jordan. A transfer is included from the Mövenpick Resort &amp; Spa Dead Sea to the Queen Alia International Airport (about 1 1/4 hours) – allow 2 1/2 hours for check-in. Most international flights depart early in the morning; Tauck can arrange an extra night at the Mövenpick Resort &amp; Spa Dead Sea – ask at booking. Meals B

]]>
  </itinerary>
  <itineraryDetails>
    <itineraryDay day="1">
  <title>Arrive Cairo</title>
  <description>Tour begins: Mena House Oberoi. Welcome to Egypt; a transfer is included from Cairo International Airport to Mena House Oberoi, a sumptuous former royal hunting lodge close to the Pyramids of Giza. You’ll have no doubt you’ve embarked on an unforgettable journey when you look out from your room... and see the Pyramids there before you!</description>
  <overnight>Mena House Oberoi, Cairo, Egypt</overnight>
  <meals>A snack in your hotel room upon late arrival</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="2">
  <title>Sphinx &amp; Pyramids of Giza / Solar Boar</title>
  <description>At Giza, the incomparable Sphinx sits near the magnificent Great Pyramid of Cheops (Khufu), the only survivor among the “Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.” And you’ll see them both today, plus have your photo taken while riding a camel* at the Pyramids. Check out an Egyptian cedarwood boat – remarkably well preserved after 4,500 years buried in the sand – at Giza’s Solar Boat Museum. Join us this evening for a welcome reception followed by dinner at your hotel, ideally set in the shadow of the Pyramids.</description>
  <overnight>Mena House Oberoi, Cairo, Egypt</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="3">
  <title>Egyptian Museum / Old Cairo</title>
  <description>Gain insights on the changing face of this ancient country during a morning lecture on modern Egyptian history by a local expert. Voices of the past seem to come from the host of rare artifacts – including treasures from King Tutankhamun’s tomb – representing 5,000 years of Egyptian history at Cairo’s Egyptian Museum; your visit to the mummy collection is eerily amazing! On a walk through Old Cairo with a local guide, visit a mosque before exploring the bazaar at your leisure. Tonight’s spectacular sound and light show, set against the Pyramids and the Sphinx in Giza, is dazzling and awe-inspiring!</description>
  <overnight>Mena House Oberoi, Cairo, Egypt</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="4">
  <title>Memphis / Sakkara / Dahshur</title>
  <description>Take a good look at some of Egypt’s oldest antiquities on an excursion from Cairo to ancient Memphis, the first capital of the “Old Kingdom” of Upper and Lower Egypt; see the statue of Ramesses II and the Alabaster Sphinx. Learn how ancient pyramid design developed in Sakkara when you view the early Step Pyramid of Djoser and visit the mound-like Pyramid of Teti, along with the royal tombs of the remote necropolis of Dahshur.</description>
  <overnight>Mena House Oberoi, Cairo, Egypt</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="5">
  <title>Abu Simbel / Sahara / • Embark Ship</title>
  <description>Fly via private charter to visit the archaeological site of Abu Simbel, where the gigantic temples of Ramesses II and his wife, Queen Nefertari, dwarf you and fellow visitors. Travel through the Sahara Desert to Aswan – stopping for a look at one of the world’s great engineering feats, the Aswan High Dam – and board the Nile Adventurer for your three-night Nile cruise. Disembark for a private boat ride to see the Philae Temple before returning to the ship for tonight’s welcome dinner aboard the Nile Adventurer, hosted by the Captain.</description>
  <overnight>Aboard Nile Adventurer</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="6">
  <title>• Nile Cruise / Kom Ombo / Edfu</title>
  <description>Glimpse life along the Nile’s banks from the decks of the Nile Adventurer as you sail to Kom Ombo for a guided visit to its unusual double temple and tea at a replica of a Nubian village. Continue on to Edfu and the Temple of Horus, one of the best preserved in Egypt, whose detailed walls are a textbook of mythology and history. Get set for a special evening aboard ship tonight – including a private galley tour and cooking demonstration, an Egyptian Night dinner for which you’ll don traditional Egyptian garb, and after-dinner music and dancing as the Nile Adventurer cruises to Luxor.</description>
  <overnight>Aboard Nile Adventurer</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="7">
  <title>• Luxor Temples / Carriage Ride</title>
  <description>A remarkable day awaits you in Luxor, site of the ancient Egyptian city of Thebes and an extraordinary “open-air museum.” After an on-board lecture, our expert Egyptologist leads you through visits to the Temple of Karnak and the Luxor Museum to view treasures of Upper Egypt. A private horse-drawn carriage whisks you to a tour of the Temple of Luxor – spectacularly lit at night – before you return to the Nile Adventurer for your final night aboard, featuring farewell cocktails, dinner and a folkloric show.</description>
  <overnight>Aboard Nile Adventurer</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="8">
  <title>Valleys of the Kings &amp; Queens</title>
  <description>Disembark Nile Adventurer in Luxor and head to the Valley of the Kings; step into another world as you enter the actual tombs of King Tutankhamun and several other pharaohs! Continue on to the Valley of the Queens and Medinet Habu. Tonight, enjoy wine, beer and snacks aboard a traditional felucca at sunset, then dinner à la carte at the hotel in Luxor, where your balconied room overlooks the Nile.</description>
  <overnight>Steigenberger Nile Palace Luxor, Egypt</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="9">
  <title>Fly to Jordan / Wadi Rum Excursion</title>
  <description>After a private charter flight to the Red Sea resort city of Aqaba, Jordan, Tauck takes you on an excursion to Wadi Rum, home to some of the most stunning desert landscapes on earth. Exploring these beautiful, lunar-like dunes and towering sandstone cliffs by four-wheel-drive vehicle is an absolutely unforgettable experience! Journey through the desert to the iconic archaeological site of Petra.</description>
  <overnight>Mövenpick Resort Petra, Jordan</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="10">
  <title>Incredible Petra / Bedouin Family Visit</title>
  <description>A passage through a narrow canyon called the Siq leads to yet another breathtaking moment – your first glimpse of the ancient Nabataean city of Petra, carved out of the sandstone cliffs around 6 BC. Explore Petra’s fascinating sites both on foot and via horse cart, including the 130-foot-high Khazneh (The Treasury), the Royal Tombs, and an amphitheatre that once seated 8,000, and numerous temples and tombs. Later, you’ll visit the private home of a Bedouin family, then have dinner at a restored hilltop Bedouin village.</description>
  <overnight>Mövenpick Resort Petra, Jordan</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="11">
  <title>Along the Jordan to the Dead Sea</title>
  <description>Thousands of years of biblical history reveal themselves along the 5,000-year-old Kings’ Highway from Petra to sites on the east bank of the River Jordan associated with stories in both the Old and New Testaments. Begin with Bethany beyond the Jordan, identified as the place where Jesus was baptized by John the Baptist. Pass Mt. Nebo, try traditional Jordanian foods for lunch, and visit St. George’s Church in Madaba to view a 6th-century mosaic map of biblical sites en route to your spa resort on the Dead Sea.</description>
  <overnight>Mövenpick Resort &amp; Spa Dead Sea, Jordan</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="12">
  <title>Resort Relaxation / Jerash Excursion</title>
  <description>Spend a relaxing day at your Dead Sea resort or set off on an excursion to Jerash, site of one of the best-preserved ancient Roman cities in the Middle East. Wander among its fine examples of Roman temples, arches, theatres, baths, and city walls. Tonight, cap your unforgettable journey with a festive farewell reception and dinner.</description>
  <overnight>Mövenpick Resort &amp; Spa Dead Sea, Jordan</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="13">
  <title>Journey Home</title>
  <description>Tour ends: Jordan. A transfer is included from the Mövenpick Resort &amp;amp; Spa Dead Sea to the Queen Alia International Airport (about 1 1/4 hours) – allow 2 1/2 hours for check-in. Most international flights depart early in the morning; Tauck can arrange an extra night at the Mövenpick Resort &amp;amp; Spa Dead Sea – ask at booking.</description>
  <overnight></overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast</meals>
</itineraryDay>
  </itineraryDetails>
  <highlights>
		
				3-night cruise on Nile Adventurer ~ Cairo ~ Luxor ~ Giza ~ Petra 
</highlights>
  <tauckValues>
    <value order="1">3-night Nile River cruise aboard Nile Adventurer, with private galley tour &amp; cooking demonstration</value><value order="2">Sightseeing of Egypts antiquities led by renowned Egyptologists, with discoveries in Jordan guided by local experts &amp; professional Tauck Directors</value><value order="3">Tea at a replica of a Nubian village, and a visit with a Bedouin family in their private home</value><value order="4">Guided visits to the Pyramids, King Tuts tomb, ancient Petra, biblical sites on the River Jordan and more</value><value order="5">Traditional felucca cruise on the Nile River at sunset</value><value order="6">Private horse-drawn carriage ride to Temple of Luxor</value><value order="7">Camel ride and sound &amp; light show at Giza</value><value order="8">Four-wheel-drive vehicle excursion to Wadi Rum</value><value order="9">Two private charter flights</value><value order="10">Just about all meals  33 (12 breakfasts, 11 lunches, 10 dinners), gratuities for local guides, service charges, taxes, porterage and airport transfers</value>
  </tauckValues>  
  <departureDates>
    <date>
    <day>13</day>
    <month>9</month>
    <year>2010</year>
    <singlesPrice>7360</singlesPrice>
    <doublesPrice>6390</doublesPrice>
    <triplesPrice>0</triplesPrice>
    <quadsPrice>0</quadsPrice>
    <cabins>
<cabin>
  <categoryCode>EP 20101</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>1</occupancy>
  <description>Standard Cabin - Nile Deck</description>
  <suppliment>0</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>7360</totalPrice>
</cabin>
<cabin>
  <categoryCode>EP 20101</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>2</occupancy>
  <description>Standard Cabin - Nile Deck</description>
  <suppliment>0</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>6390</totalPrice>
</cabin>
<cabin>
  <categoryCode>EP 20102</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>1</occupancy>
  <description>Standard Cabin - Main Deck</description>
  <suppliment>122</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>7482</totalPrice>
</cabin>
<cabin>
  <categoryCode>EP 20102</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>2</occupancy>
  <description>Standard Cabin - Main Deck</description>
  <suppliment>75</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>6465</totalPrice>
</cabin>
<cabin>
  <categoryCode>EP 20103</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>1</occupancy>
  <description>Standard Cabin - Bridge Deck</description>
  <suppliment>238</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>7598</totalPrice>
</cabin>
<cabin>
  <categoryCode>EP 20103</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>2</occupancy>
  <description>Standard Cabin - Bridge Deck</description>
  <suppliment>150</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>6540</totalPrice>
</cabin>
<cabin>
  <categoryCode>EP 20104</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>1</occupancy>
  <description>Standard Cabin - Promenade Deck</description>
  <suppliment>356</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>7716</totalPrice>
</cabin>
<cabin>
  <categoryCode>EP 20104</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>2</occupancy>
  <description>Standard Cabin - Promenade Deck</description>
  <suppliment>225</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>6615</totalPrice>
</cabin>
<cabin>
  <categoryCode>EP 20105</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>1</occupancy>
  <description>Deluxe Cabin   - Main Deck</description>
  <suppliment>832</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>8192</totalPrice>
</cabin>
<cabin>
  <categoryCode>EP 20105</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>2</occupancy>
  <description>Deluxe Cabin   - Main Deck</description>
  <suppliment>450</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>6840</totalPrice>
</cabin>
<cabin>
  <categoryCode>EP 20106</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>1</occupancy>
  <description>Presidential Suite - Promenade Deck</description>
  <suppliment>1587</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>8947</totalPrice>
</cabin>
<cabin>
  <categoryCode>EP 20106</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>2</occupancy>
  <description>Presidential Suite - Promenade Deck</description>
  <suppliment>825</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>7215</totalPrice>
</cabin></cabins>
  </date>
  <date>
    <day>29</day>
    <month>11</month>
    <year>2010</year>
    <singlesPrice>7360</singlesPrice>
    <doublesPrice>6390</doublesPrice>
    <triplesPrice>0</triplesPrice>
    <quadsPrice>0</quadsPrice>
    <cabins>
<cabin>
  <categoryCode>EP 20101</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>1</occupancy>
  <description>Standard Cabin - Nile Deck</description>
  <suppliment>0</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>7360</totalPrice>
</cabin>
<cabin>
  <categoryCode>EP 20101</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>2</occupancy>
  <description>Standard Cabin - Nile Deck</description>
  <suppliment>0</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>6390</totalPrice>
</cabin>
<cabin>
  <categoryCode>EP 20102</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>1</occupancy>
  <description>Standard Cabin - Main Deck</description>
  <suppliment>122</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>7482</totalPrice>
</cabin>
<cabin>
  <categoryCode>EP 20102</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>2</occupancy>
  <description>Standard Cabin - Main Deck</description>
  <suppliment>75</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>6465</totalPrice>
</cabin>
<cabin>
  <categoryCode>EP 20103</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>1</occupancy>
  <description>Standard Cabin - Bridge Deck</description>
  <suppliment>238</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>7598</totalPrice>
</cabin>
<cabin>
  <categoryCode>EP 20103</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>2</occupancy>
  <description>Standard Cabin - Bridge Deck</description>
  <suppliment>150</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>6540</totalPrice>
</cabin>
<cabin>
  <categoryCode>EP 20104</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>1</occupancy>
  <description>Standard Cabin - Promenade Deck</description>
  <suppliment>356</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>7716</totalPrice>
</cabin>
<cabin>
  <categoryCode>EP 20104</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>2</occupancy>
  <description>Standard Cabin - Promenade Deck</description>
  <suppliment>225</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>6615</totalPrice>
</cabin>
<cabin>
  <categoryCode>EP 20105</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>1</occupancy>
  <description>Deluxe Cabin   - Main Deck</description>
  <suppliment>832</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>8192</totalPrice>
</cabin>
<cabin>
  <categoryCode>EP 20105</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>2</occupancy>
  <description>Deluxe Cabin   - Main Deck</description>
  <suppliment>450</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>6840</totalPrice>
</cabin>
<cabin>
  <categoryCode>EP 20106</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>1</occupancy>
  <description>Presidential Suite - Promenade Deck</description>
  <suppliment>1587</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>8947</totalPrice>
</cabin>
<cabin>
  <categoryCode>EP 20106</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>2</occupancy>
  <description>Presidential Suite - Promenade Deck</description>
  <suppliment>825</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>7215</totalPrice>
</cabin></cabins>
  </date>
  <date>
    <day>13</day>
    <month>12</month>
    <year>2010</year>
    <singlesPrice>7360</singlesPrice>
    <doublesPrice>6390</doublesPrice>
    <triplesPrice>0</triplesPrice>
    <quadsPrice>0</quadsPrice>
    <cabins>
<cabin>
  <categoryCode>EP 20101</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>1</occupancy>
  <description>Standard Cabin - Nile Deck</description>
  <suppliment>0</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>7360</totalPrice>
</cabin>
<cabin>
  <categoryCode>EP 20101</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>2</occupancy>
  <description>Standard Cabin - Nile Deck</description>
  <suppliment>0</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>6390</totalPrice>
</cabin>
<cabin>
  <categoryCode>EP 20102</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>1</occupancy>
  <description>Standard Cabin - Main Deck</description>
  <suppliment>122</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>7482</totalPrice>
</cabin>
<cabin>
  <categoryCode>EP 20102</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>2</occupancy>
  <description>Standard Cabin - Main Deck</description>
  <suppliment>75</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>6465</totalPrice>
</cabin>
<cabin>
  <categoryCode>EP 20103</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>1</occupancy>
  <description>Standard Cabin - Bridge Deck</description>
  <suppliment>238</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>7598</totalPrice>
</cabin>
<cabin>
  <categoryCode>EP 20103</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>2</occupancy>
  <description>Standard Cabin - Bridge Deck</description>
  <suppliment>150</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>6540</totalPrice>
</cabin>
<cabin>
  <categoryCode>EP 20104</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>1</occupancy>
  <description>Standard Cabin - Promenade Deck</description>
  <suppliment>356</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>7716</totalPrice>
</cabin>
<cabin>
  <categoryCode>EP 20104</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>2</occupancy>
  <description>Standard Cabin - Promenade Deck</description>
  <suppliment>225</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>6615</totalPrice>
</cabin>
<cabin>
  <categoryCode>EP 20105</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>1</occupancy>
  <description>Deluxe Cabin   - Main Deck</description>
  <suppliment>832</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>8192</totalPrice>
</cabin>
<cabin>
  <categoryCode>EP 20105</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>2</occupancy>
  <description>Deluxe Cabin   - Main Deck</description>
  <suppliment>450</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>6840</totalPrice>
</cabin>
<cabin>
  <categoryCode>EP 20106</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>1</occupancy>
  <description>Presidential Suite - Promenade Deck</description>
  <suppliment>1587</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>8947</totalPrice>
</cabin>
<cabin>
  <categoryCode>EP 20106</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>2</occupancy>
  <description>Presidential Suite - Promenade Deck</description>
  <suppliment>825</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>7215</totalPrice>
</cabin></cabins>
  </date>

</departureDates>

</tour><tour>
  <sourceId>ES2010</sourceId>
  <title>Essence of South America</title>
  <summary>
    <![CDATA[Experience the best of Chile, Argentina and Brazil from the splendor of breathtaking Iguazú Falls to the rhythms of Rio de Janeiro and the unsurpassed visual beauty of the Andes on our exciting 13-day South America tour. 
]]>
  </summary>
  <description>
    <![CDATA[Tauck’s 13-day Essence of South America tour offers you an inspiring opportunity to see the many wonders of South America for yourself. From the western coast of Chile to the eastern coast of Brazil by way of Patagonia, the Andes, the pampas, and through some of the world’s most breathtaking scenery, we’ll share the pleasures of this wonderfully diverse continent with you. Discover the very best of a trio of world-class South American cities – Santiago, Buenos Aires and Rio de Janeiro – from the finest hotels in each city. Cross the Andes and cruise on lovely lakes in full view of those mighty mountains. Spend a day on an estancia, a working ranch, and watch as the gauchos display their skills. View spectacular Iguazú Falls from both Brazil and Argentina. Sample the fine wines of Chile and famous Argentinean beef; visit the former home of a famed Chilean poet and get a behind-the-scenes look at Rio&apos;s Carnaval; feel the passion and the heat of the tango and the samba. Tauck’s South America tour is the experience of a lifetime! 
]]>
  </description>
  <link>http://www.tauck.com/tours/latin-america/south-america-tours-es-2010</link>
  <durationDays>13</durationDays>
  <durationDetails>13 days and 12 nights.</durationDetails>
  <tripType>ESCORTED_TOUR</tripType>
  <brand>TWD</brand>
  <subbrand>Exotics</subbrand>
  <gradeRating>ALL_AGES</gradeRating>
  <comfortRating>COMFORTABLE_MIXED</comfortRating>
  <startingLocation>Santiago, Chile</startingLocation>
  <prices>
    <price currency="USD">5440</price>
    <priceDetails><![CDATA[All prices are per person in U.S. dollars. ]]></priceDetails>
  </prices>
  <images>
    <image isMain="true">http://tools.tauck.com/Files/ItineraryImages/ListImages/img_ES2010_list.jpg</image>
    <image>http://tools.tauck.com/Files/ItineraryImages/altImages/ES2010_alt1.jpg</image>
    <image>http://tools.tauck.com/Files/ItineraryImages/altImages/ES2010_alt2.jpg</image>
    <image>http://tools.tauck.com/Files/ItineraryImages/altImages/ES2010_alt3.jpg</image>
    <image isMap="true">http://tools.tauck.com/Files/ItineraryImages/MapImages/map_ES2010.jpg</image>
  </images>
  <itinerary>
    <![CDATA[Flying to South America 
Most international flights arrive in Santiago between 2:00 AM and 8:00 AM local time, which is the same as the United States’ Eastern Standard Time. To ease the effects of jet lag, you may want to consider traveling to South America a day early. Tauck can book your international flights for travel originating in the United States, and arrange an additional night at The Ritz-Carlton, Santiago, for the evening before your journey begins, giving you time to rest and relax. Ask for details at booking.

1. Arrive Santiago, Chile
Tour begins: The Ritz-Carlton, Santiago at 6:30 PM. A transfer is included from Santiago Airport to The Ritz-Carlton, Santiago for your two-night stay. Please join us for a welcome reception followed by dinner tonight. Meals D

2. Santiago and Chilean Wine Country
Your South American experience begins with a Santiago sightseeing tour that includes a visit to the Plaza de Armas, followed by an excursion into the countryside, where Chile’s wines have been perfected by generations of winemaking traditions. Discover their secrets in the Maipo Valley with a tour of the cellars, a tasting, and an al fresco lunch at the Tarapaca Winery. Spend time at leisure or join us for a visit to La Chascona, built by the late Nobel Prize-winning poet and activist Pablo Neruda as a romantic hideaway for the relationship recounted in the film Il Postino. Meals BL

3. Charms of Patagonia
Southern Chile astounds with rugged mountains, alpine lakes, and charming German-inspired villages. Fly into one of them – the busy port town of Puerto Montt, settled by 19th-century German immigrants – and continue to Patagonia. While the scenery you’ll drive through is nothing short of bucolic, wait till you see the views of Osorno Volcano from your ideally located hotel in Puerto Varas! The afternoon is yours to explore this lakeside town on your own. Meals BLD

4. Lake Cruise and Wilderness Adventure
National parks of staggering beauty set the stage for a spectacular two-day Andes crossing from Chile to Argentina – and unforgettable wilderness experiences including a walk to Petrohue Rapids and a catamaran cruise across Lago Todos Los Santos. Celebrate the area’s natural treasures your way with a choice of a 4 x 4 vehicle excursion*, a zip-line ride* in the treetop canopy, or a journey on horseback* through the forest. Overnight in a wilderness lodge overlooking the lake, and dig into an à la carte dinner tonight. Meals BLD

5. Crossing the Andes to Argentina
If impossibly beautiful vistas of snow-capped mountains and alpine lakes are food for your soul, then get ready to feast your eyes on a banquet of natural wonders on your lake crossing through the Andes into Argentina! A boat cruise today takes you along the Argentine side of Lago Todos Los Santos for a rare opportunity to see Andean condors soaring among the mountain peaks. Spend the next two nights in deluxe lake-view rooms at a luxurious alpine resort in Bariloche, the “Switzerland of South America.” Meals BLD

6. Llao Llao Resort at Leisure 
The entire day is free for you to enjoy the many amenities available at your resort (some at an additional charge), from archery, golf, tennis, and sailing to pampering spa treatments, Pilates and tango lessons. Or you can explore Nahuel Huapi National Park on your own, perhaps indulging in 360-degree vistas of Andean peaks, glistening lakes and fairy-tale forests during a chairlift ride up a nearby mountain! Meals BD

7. Fly to Buenos Aires
Your morning flight to Buenos Aires arrives in time for lunch at the historic Café Tortoni, and an afternoon tour of the city fondly called the “Paris of South America.” See Argentina’s Presidential Palace, la Casa Rosada, at Plaza de Mayo, and the Teatro Colon opera house. Have dinner at your hotel in a tranquil district filled with galleries and boutiques. Meals BLD

8. Sights of Argentina’s “Big Apple”
Everything about Buenos Aires is big – from the size of the city, stretching out more than 75 square miles, to the sprawling estancias on the surrounding plains, to the man-sized steaks, arguably among the world’s best, to the tango. Discover more of it today, avoiding the usual crowds on a morning visit to Evita Peron’s grave in unique Recoleta Cemetery. Experience an authentic taste of Argentine culture during a visit to Boca, a barrio with its own character and history. Tonight, follow a sumptuous dinner with all the passion and power of the traditional tango at Rojo Tango, regarded as the finest tango show in the city. Meals BD

9. Gauchos &amp; Estancias on the Pampas
Images of black Spanish hats, woven Indian shawls, baggy bombacha pants and sharp swords come to mind when you think of the gauchos of Argentina. But you’ll see modern-day horsemen at work as you head to the pampas and a private estancia (ranch) outside the city, where gauchos demonstrate their riding skills. Feast on a barbecue featuring local grilled specialties, an authentic pampas tradition, for lunch, followed by a free afternoon and evening in Buenos Aires. Meals BL

10. Breathtaking Iguazú Falls
Sixty-five feet higher and twice as wide as Niagara Falls, Iguazú Falls is the most spectacular waterfall in the Western Hemisphere. Fly to Argentina’s part of the falls today for an overnight near this amazing spectacle. Discover Iguazú National Park, a World Heritage Site, this afternoon, taking the opportunity to see the falls from the Argentine side. Dine with a view tonight at your hotel’s restaurant, where the thundering waters are just a glance away! Meals BD

11. More of the Falls / “Flying Up to Rio” 
The best place to experience a panoramic view of the 275 cascades that form the mile-and-a-half Iguazú Falls is on the Brazilian side; cross over the Tancredo Neves Bridge into Brazil and take an unforgettable walk at the base of the falls. Fly late afternoon to legendary Rio de Janeiro; your ocean-view accommodations overlook Copacabana Beach, an endless stretch of powdered sand on the Atlantic. Meals BLD

12. Brazil’s “Carnaval” Capital
Wake up in amazing Rio and set off by coach and rail to the summit of Corcovado, where the iconic statue of Christ the Redeemer presides over truly inspiring views of the city and sea. Inaugurated over a century ago by Brazilian Emperor Dom Pedro II, the train takes you to Tijuca National Park en route to your hilltop destination, alive with local flora and fauna. Return to Rio for a tour of the historic downtown, seeing the new Cathedral and many of its Belle Èpoque landmarks – including the Confeitaria Colombo, where you’ll enjoy lunch. Rio’s zest for life is reflected in its passion for Carnaval, which has defined this pleasure-loving city for decades; join a local guide for a behind-the-scenes look at the business of this festive annual celebration at Samba City. Learn how the colorful floats and costumes are created, and enjoy an exclusive samba dance performance. Celebrate your journey’s end with tonight’s farewell reception and dinner featuring traditional Brazilian churrasco cuisine. Meals BLD

13. Journey Home
Tour ends: Rio de Janeiro at 5:00 PM. After a morning at leisure, a two-stage cable car ride up 1,390 feet to the top of Sugarloaf Mountain reveals still another breathtaking, bird’s-eye view of Rio’s world, extending from beaches and bays to the mountains beyond. A transfer is included from the JW Marriott Hotel Rio de Janeiro to Rio de Janeiro International Airport. Allow 3 1/2 hours for flight check-in. Meals B
]]>
  </itinerary>
  <itineraryDetails>
    <itineraryDay day="1">
  <title>Arrive Santiago, Chile</title>
  <description>Tour begins: The Ritz&amp;#45;Carlton, Santiago at 6:30 PM.  A transfer is included from Santiago Airport to The Ritz&amp;#45;Carlton, Santiago for your two&amp;#45;night stay.  Please join us for a welcome reception followed by dinner tonight.  Meals D</description>
  <overnight>The Ritz-Carlton, Santiago, Chile</overnight>
  <meals>Dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="2">
  <title>Santiago and Chilean Wine Country</title>
  <description>Your South American experience begins with a Santiago sightseeing tour that includes a visit to the Plaza de Armas, followed by an excursion into the countryside, where Chile&apos;s wines have been perfected by generations of winemaking traditions.  Discover their secrets in the Maipo Valley with a tour of the cellars, a tasting, and an al fresco lunch at the Tarapaca Winery.  Spend time at leisure or join us for a visit to La Chascona, built by the late Nobel Prize&amp;#45;winning poet and activist Pablo Neruda as a romantic hideaway for the relationship recounted in the film Il Postino.  Meals BL</description>
  <overnight>The Ritz-Carlton, Santiago, Chile</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="3">
  <title>Charms of Patagonia</title>
  <description>Southern Chile astounds with rugged mountains, alpine lakes, and charming German&amp;#45;inspired villages.  Fly into one of them &amp;#45; the busy port town of Puerto Montt, settled by 19th&amp;#45;century German immigrants &amp;#45; and continue to Patagonia.  While the scenery you&apos;ll drive through is nothing short of bucolic, wait till you see the views of Osorno Volcano from your ideally located hotel in Puerto Varas! The afternoon is yours to explore this lakeside town on your own.  Meals BLD</description>
  <overnight>Solace Hotel, Puerto Varas, Chile</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="4">
  <title>Lake Cruise and Wilderness Adventure</title>
  <description>National parks of staggering beauty set the stage for a spectacular two&amp;#45;day Andes crossing from Chile to Argentina &amp;#45; and unforgettable wilderness experiences including a walk to Petrohue Rapids and a catamaran cruise across Lago Todos Los Santos.  Celebrate the area&apos;s natural treasures your way with a choice of a 4 x 4 vehicle excursion*, a zip&amp;#45;line ride* in the treetop canopy, or a journey on horseback* through the forest.  Overnight in a wilderness lodge overlooking the lake, and dig into an &amp;#224; la carte dinner tonight.  Meals BLD</description>
  <overnight>Hotel Natura, Puella, Chile</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="5">
  <title>Crossing the Andes to Argentina</title>
  <description>If impossibly beautiful vistas of snow&amp;#45;capped mountains and alpine lakes are food for your soul, then get ready to feast your eyes on a banquet of natural wonders on your lake crossing through the Andes into Argentina! A boat cruise today takes you along the Argentine side of Lago Todos Los Santos for a rare opportunity to see Andean condors soaring among the mountain peaks.  Spend the next two nights in deluxe lake&amp;#45;view rooms at a luxurious alpine resort in Bariloche, the “Switzerland of South America.” Meals BLD</description>
  <overnight>Llao Llao Hotel &amp; Resort, Bariloche, Argentina</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="6">
  <title>Llao Llao Resort at Leisure </title>
  <description>The entire day is free for you to enjoy the many amenities available at your resort (some at an additional charge), from archery, golf, tennis, and sailing to pampering spa treatments, Pilates and tango lessons.  Or you can explore Nahuel Huapi National Park on your own, perhaps indulging in 360&amp;#45;degree vistas of Andean peaks, glistening lakes and fairy&amp;#45;tale forests during a chairlift ride up a nearby mountain! Meals BD</description>
  <overnight>Llao Llao Hotel &amp; Resort, Bariloche, Argentina</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="7">
  <title>Fly to Buenos Aires</title>
  <description>Your morning flight to Buenos Aires arrives in time for lunch at the historic Caf&amp;#233; Tortoni, and an afternoon tour of the city fondly called the “Paris of South America.” See Argentina&apos;s Presidential Palace, la Casa Rosada, at Plaza de Mayo, and the Teatro Colon opera house.  Have dinner at your hotel in a tranquil district filled with galleries and boutiques.  Meals BLD</description>
  <overnight>Sofitel Buenos Aires, Argentina</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="8">
  <title>Sights of Argentina&apos;s “Big Apple”</title>
  <description>Everything about Buenos Aires is big &amp;#45; from the size of the city, stretching out more than 75 square miles, to the sprawling estancias on the surrounding plains, to the man&amp;#45;sized steaks, arguably among the world&apos;s best, to the tango.  Discover more of it today, avoiding the usual crowds on a morning visit to Evita Peron&apos;s grave in unique Recoleta Cemetery.  Experience an authentic taste of Argentine culture during a visit to Boca, a barrio with its own character and history.  Tonight, follow a sumptuous dinner with all the passion and power of the traditional tango at Rojo Tango, regarded as the finest tango show in the city.  Meals BD</description>
  <overnight>Sofitel Buenos Aires, Argentina</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="9">
  <title>Gauchos &amp; Estancias on the Pampas</title>
  <description>Images of black Spanish hats, woven Indian shawls, baggy bombacha pants and sharp swords come to mind when you think of the gauchos of Argentina.  But you&apos;ll see modern&amp;#45;day horsemen at work as you head to the pampas and a private estancia (ranch) outside the city, where gauchos demonstrate their riding skills.  Feast on a barbecue featuring local grilled specialties, an authentic pampas tradition, for lunch, followed by a free afternoon and evening in Buenos Aires.  Meals BL</description>
  <overnight>Sofitel Buenos Aires, Argentina</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="10">
  <title>Breathtaking Iguaz&amp;#240; Falls</title>
  <description>Sixty&amp;#45;five feet higher and twice as wide as Niagara Falls, Iguaz&amp;#240; Falls is the most spectacular waterfall in the Western Hemisphere.  Fly to Argentina&apos;s part of the falls today for an overnight near this amazing spectacle.  Discover Iguaz&amp;#240; National Park, a World Heritage Site, this afternoon, taking the opportunity to see the falls from the Argentine side.  Dine with a view tonight at your hotel&apos;s restaurant, where the thundering waters are just a glance away! Meals BD</description>
  <overnight>Sheraton Iguazú Resort &amp; Spa, Iguazú, Argentina</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="11">
  <title>More of the Falls / “Flying Up to Rio” </title>
  <description>The best place to experience a panoramic view of the 275 cascades that form the mile&amp;#45;and&amp;#45;a&amp;#45;half Iguaz&amp;#240; Falls is on the Brazilian side; cross over the Tancredo Neves Bridge into Brazil and take an unforgettable walk at the base of the falls.  Fly late afternoon to legendary Rio de Janeiro; your ocean&amp;#45;view accommodations overlook Copacabana Beach, an endless stretch of powdered sand on the Atlantic.  Meals BLD</description>
  <overnight>JW Marriott Hotel Rio de Janeiro, Brazil</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="12">
  <title>Brazil&apos;s “Carnaval” Capital</title>
  <description>Wake up in amazing Rio and set off by coach and rail to the summit of Corcovado, where the iconic statue of Christ the Redeemer presides over truly inspiring views of the city and sea.  Inaugurated over a century ago by Brazilian Emperor Dom Pedro II, the train takes you to Tijuca National Park en route to your hilltop destination, alive with local flora and fauna.  Return to Rio for a tour of the historic downtown, seeing the new Cathedral and many of its Belle &amp;#200;poque landmarks &amp;#45; including the Confeitaria Colombo, where you&apos;ll enjoy lunch.  Rio&apos;s zest for life is reflected in its passion for Carnaval, which has defined this pleasure&amp;#45;loving city for decades; join a local guide for a behind&amp;#45;the&amp;#45;scenes look at the business of this festive annual celebration at Samba City.  Learn how the colorful floats and costumes are created, and enjoy an exclusive samba dance performance.  Celebrate your journey&apos;s end with tonight&apos;s farewell reception and dinner featuring traditional Brazilian churrasco cuisine.  Meals BLD</description>
  <overnight>JW Marriott Hotel Rio de Janeiro, Brazil</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="13">
  <title>Journey Home</title>
  <description>Tour ends: Rio de Janeiro at 5:00 PM. After a morning at leisure, a two-stage cable car ride up 1,390 feet to the top of Sugarloaf Mountain reveals still another breathtaking, bird’s-eye view of Rio’s world, extending from beaches and bays to the mountains beyond. A transfer is included from the JW Marriott Hotel Rio de Janeiro to Rio de Janeiro International Airport. Allow 3 1/2 hours for flight check-in.</description>
  <overnight></overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast</meals>
</itineraryDay>
  </itineraryDetails>
  <highlights>
		
				Santiago ~ Patagonia ~ Puerto Montt ~ Nahuel Huapi National Park ~ Buenos Aires ~ Iguazú Falls ~ Rio de Janeiro 
</highlights>
  <tauckValues>
    <value order="1">Private wine tasting and lunch in the Maipo Valley</value><value order="2">Spectacular two-day Andes crossing with scenic lake cruises and unsurpassed views at Patagonian hotels</value><value order="3">Two-night stay in lake-view rooms at a waterfront resort in Bariloche, the Switzerland of South America</value><value order="4">Three nights in Buenos Aires with an exclusive visit to a private estancia for an authentic taste of ranch life</value><value order="5">Two nights in Rio de Janeiro with ocean-view rooms at an ideally located hotel on Copacabana Beach</value><value order="6">Rojo Tango dinner and tango show in Buenos Aires</value><value order="7">Walk along the base of Iguazu Falls during an overnight stay at a hotel boasting up-close views of the waterfalls</value><value order="8">Visits to Chilean poet Pablo Nerudas home and Rio&apos;s Samba City for a behind-the-scenes look at Carnaval</value><value order="9">30 meals (12 breakfasts, 8 lunches, 10 dinners)</value><value order="10">Gratuities to local guides, airport transfers, service charges, admission fees, taxes and porterage</value>
  </tauckValues>  
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</tour><tour>
  <sourceId>EY2010</sourceId>
  <title>Egypt: Jewels Along the Nile</title>
  <summary>
    <![CDATA[The &quot;land of the Pharaohs&quot; beckons when you take a 4-night cruise along the River Nile and join Tauck&apos;s Egyptologists to explore the pyramids, ornate temples, and priceless treasures of an intriguing ancient civilization on Tauck&apos;s 12-day Egypt tour.
]]>
  </summary>
  <description>
    <![CDATA[Tauck&apos;s expert Egyptologists invite you to delve into a fascinating civilization where architectural feats and antiquities still amaze thousands of years after their creation – an intriguing land of pyramids, temples, colossal statues, mummies, golden treasures, and hieroglyphic symbols! Our comprehensive Egypt tour includes a ride atop a camel and a sound &amp; light show at the Great Pyramids and the Sphinx at Giza; a sunset cocktail cruise aboard a traditional felucca; stays at Egypt&apos;s finest hotels – including Pyramid-view rooms in Cairo, a Tauck exclusive – and visits to the temple complexes of Luxor, the Valleys of the Kings and Queens, Old Cairo, the Egyptian Museum and more.  And of course, no Egypt tour is complete without a cruise along the River Nile; Tauck guests spend four nights aboard Nile Adventurer, one of the best ships on the ancient river.
]]>
  </description>
  <link>http://www.tauck.com/tours/africa-travel/egypt-tour-ey-2010</link>
  <durationDays>12</durationDays>
  <durationDetails>12 days and 11 nights.</durationDetails>
  <tripType>ESCORTED_CRUISE</tripType>
  <brand>TWD</brand>
  <subbrand>Exotics</subbrand>
  <gradeRating>ALL_AGES</gradeRating>
  <comfortRating>COMFORTABLE_MIXED</comfortRating>
  <startingLocation>Cairo, Egypt</startingLocation>
  <prices>
    <price currency="USD">4900</price>
    <priceDetails><![CDATA[All prices are per person in U.S. dollars. ]]></priceDetails>
  </prices>
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  <itinerary>
    <![CDATA[• = Cruise Day

Flying to Tauck’s Egypt
Most international flights arrive in Egypt between 3:00 PM and 11:00 PM local time; to ease the effects of jet lag, you may want to consider traveling to Egypt a day early. Tauck can book your transatlantic flights for travel originating in the United States, and arrange accommodations in Cairo for the night before your tour begins, giving you time to rest and relax. Ask for details upon booking.

1. Arrive Cairo
Tour begins: Mena House Oberoi. Warm greetings welcome you to Egypt from the moment of arrival! A transfer is included from Cairo International Airport to Mena House Oberoi. Your Cairo hotel is a sumptuous former royal hunting lodge in the shadow of the Pyramids, featuring unparalleled views of these ancient wonders.

2. Pyramids of Giza / Sphinx / Solar Boat
Meet our local Egyptologist this morning before you embark on the first of many exciting personally guided excursions to Egypt’s iconic antiquities. Today’s explorations include a visit to the Solar Boat Museum to view a 4,500-year-old cedarwood boat and time at Giza, home to the Sphinx and the Great Pyramid of Cheops. Climb atop a camel for a memorable ride* at the Pyramids! Join us for a welcome cocktail reception and dinner tonight. Meals BLD

3. Ancient Memphis / Sakkara / Dahshur
Journey to ancient Memphis today, the first capital of the “Old Kingdom” of Upper and Lower Egypt. Ruins here include the imposing statue of Ramesses II and the Alabaster Sphinx. Learn about the progressive development of pyramid design on visits to nearby Sakkara and the Royal Tombs of Dahshur where you will see the Step Pyramid of Djoser and explore the Teti Pyramid. As a Tauck Exclusive, you’ll be able to go inside the bench-like private tomb of one of the site’s early mastabas. Meals BL

4. Fly to Luxor / Temple of Karnak
Fly aboard our charter flight to Luxor; site of the ancient Egyptian city of Thebes, it’s truly one of the world’s most extraordinary “open-air” museums. Join our expert Egyptologist for a tour of the Temple of Karnak with its Great Hypostyle Hall. View the treasures of Upper Egypt on a guided visit to the Luxor Museum. A sunset cocktail cruise aboard a traditional felucca is followed by an à la carte dinner at a choice of restaurants in Tauck’s hotel, where your room overlooks the Nile. Meals BLD

• 5. Valley of the Kings / Embark Nile Adventurer
View Queen Hatshepsut’s temple as you travel to the secluded Valley of the Kings on Luxor’s west bank this morning, site of over 60 pharaohs’ tombs. Tauck’s Egyptologist will enrich your tour of Medinet Habu and the Valley of the Queens. Settle into your cabin on the Nile Adventurer this afternoon, then join us on a private horse-drawn carriage for a visit to the temple complex at Luxor, all lit up for a memorable evening visit. Your welcome dinner aboard ship tonight features belly dancers and entertainment. Meals BLD

• 6. Cruise to Esna
Nile Adventurer sets off early from Luxor to spend an exciting day cruising the Nile. Glimpse life along the ancient riverbanks as the ship makes its way to Esna; there you’ll visit the Greco-Roman Temple of Khnum, built during the reign of the Roman Emperor Claudius. Enjoy a cooking demonstration, private galley tour and afternoon tea aboard ship this afternoon. Join your Captain tonight at a reception that entices with Egyptian wine and local beer. Meals BLD

• 7. Edfu / Egyptian Evening
Spend the morning cruising along the Nile to Edfu. An afternoon excursion to the Temple of Horus, one of the best-preserved temples in Egypt, reveals a treasure trove of mythology and history on its detailed walls. A very special evening of entertainment and dancing aboard ship is made even more memorable when you don local attire. Meals BLD

• 8. Kom Ombo / Aswan / Philae Temple
Walk to the Temple of Kom Ombo and its unusual double temples this morning; in spite of the ravages of time and man, its beauty remains undisturbed. Your cruise continues to Aswan, where a private motorboat ferries you to Agilka Island to see the Temple of Isis at Philae and the granite quarries used by ancient Egyptians to build their temples and pyramids. Join us for a gala Captain’s farewell dinner aboard ship, served by white-gloved waiters. Meals BLD

9. Disembark Ship / Abu Simbel / Cairo
Disembark ship in Aswan before traveling to Abu Simbel. Here, in what was once the land of Nubia, you’ll be awed by the colossal Temple of Ramesses II, carved out of the solid rock face of a sandstone cliff, and the Temple of Queen Nefertari. Return to Cairo via a charter flight for a three-night stay in an ideally located, city-center hotel – stunning views of the Nile await from your room’s balcony. Meals BLD

10. Egyptian Museum / King Tut Treasures
The ancient artifacts you’ll see on display at Cairo’s Egyptian Museum tell the story of nearly 5,000 years of human history in Egypt, including many of the treasures found in King Tutankhamun’s tomb. Tonight, enjoy a spectacular sound and light show set against the inspiring backdrop of the Pyramids and the Sphinx in Giza. Meals B

11. Exploring Cairo, Past and Present
Start your day at a lecture given by a professor of modern Egyptian history, before exploring Old Cairo on a walking tour. Sights include Ben Ezra Synagogue, Roman ruins, the Coptic Christian Church of St. Sergius, 7th-century Amr Ibn Al-As Mosque and King Farouk’s tomb in the Al-Rifai Mosque. Join us for a farewell dinner tonight. Meals BLD

12. Journey Home
Tour ends: Cairo. Fly home anytime. A transfer is included from your hotel to Cairo International Airport; allow a minimum of 2 1/2 hours for flight check-in. Meals B

]]>
  </itinerary>
  <itineraryDetails>
    <itineraryDay day="1">
  <title>Arrive Cairo</title>
  <description>Tour begins: Mena House Oberoi. Warm greetings welcome you to Egypt from the moment of arrival! A transfer is included from Cairo International Airport to Mena House Oberoi. Your Cairo hotel is a sumptuous former royal hunting lodge in the shadow of the Pyramids, featuring unparalleled views of these ancient wonders.</description>
  <overnight>Mena House Oberoi, Cairo, Egypt</overnight>
  <meals>A snack in your hotel room upon late arrival</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="2">
  <title>Pyramids of Giza / Sphinx / Solar Boat</title>
  <description>Meet our local Egyptologist this morning before you embark on the first of many exciting personally guided excursions to Egypt’s iconic antiquities. Today’s explorations include a visit to the Solar Boat Museum to view a 4,500-year-old cedarwood boat and time at Giza, home to the Sphinx and the Great Pyramid of Cheops. Climb atop a camel for a memorable ride* at the Pyramids! Join us for a welcome cocktail reception and dinner tonight.</description>
  <overnight>Mena House Oberoi, Cairo, Egypt</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="3">
  <title>Ancient Memphis / Sakkara / Dahshur</title>
  <description>Journey to ancient Memphis today, the first capital of the “Old Kingdom” of Upper and Lower Egypt. Ruins here include the imposing statue of Ramesses II and the Alabaster Sphinx. Learn about the progressive development of pyramid design on visits to nearby Sakkara and the Royal Tombs of Dahshur where you will see the Step Pyramid of Djoser and explore the Teti Pyramid. As a Tauck Exclusive, you’ll be able to go inside the bench-like private tomb of one of the site’s early mastabas.</description>
  <overnight>Mena House Oberoi, Cairo, Egypt</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="4">
  <title>Fly to Luxor / Temple of Karnak</title>
  <description>Fly aboard our charter flight to Luxor; site of the ancient Egyptian city of Thebes, it’s truly one of the world’s most extraordinary “open-air” museums. Join our expert Egyptologist for a tour of the Temple of Karnak with its Great Hypostyle Hall. View the treasures of Upper Egypt on a guided visit to the Luxor Museum. A sunset cocktail cruise aboard a traditional felucca is followed by an à la carte dinner at a choice of restaurants in Tauck’s hotel, where your room overlooks the Nile.</description>
  <overnight>Steigenberger Nile Palace Luxor, Egypt</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="5">
  <title>Valley of the Kings / • Embark Nile Adventurer</title>
  <description>View Queen Hatshepsut’s temple as you travel to the secluded Valley of the Kings on Luxor’s west bank this morning, site of over 60 pharaohs’ tombs. Tauck’s Egyptologist will enrich your tour of Medinet Habu and the Valley of the Queens. Settle into your cabin on the Nile Adventurer this afternoon, then join us on a private horse-drawn carriage for a visit to the temple complex at Luxor, all lit up for a memorable evening visit. Your welcome dinner aboard ship tonight features belly dancers and entertainment.</description>
  <overnight>Aboard Nile Adventurer</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="6">
  <title>• Cruise to Esna</title>
  <description>Nile Adventurer sets off early from Luxor to spend an exciting day cruising the Nile. Glimpse life along the ancient riverbanks as the ship makes its way to Esna; there you’ll visit the Greco-Roman Temple of Khnum, built during the reign of the Roman Emperor Claudius. Enjoy a cooking demonstration, private galley tour and afternoon tea aboard ship this afternoon. Join your Captain tonight at a reception that entices with Egyptian wine and local beer.</description>
  <overnight>Aboard Nile Adventurer</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="7">
  <title>• Edfu / Egyptian Evening</title>
  <description>Spend the morning cruising along the Nile to Edfu. An afternoon excursion to the Temple of Horus, one of the best-preserved temples in Egypt, reveals a treasure trove of mythology and history on its detailed walls. A very special evening of entertainment and dancing aboard ship is made even more memorable when you don local attire.</description>
  <overnight>Aboard Nile Adventurer</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="8">
  <title>• Kom Ombo / Aswan / Philae Temple</title>
  <description>Walk to the Temple of Kom Ombo and its unusual double temples this morning; in spite of the ravages of time and man, its beauty remains undisturbed. Your cruise continues to Aswan, where a private motorboat ferries you to Agilka Island to see the Temple of Isis at Philae and the granite quarries used by ancient Egyptians to build their temples and pyramids. Join us for a gala Captain’s farewell dinner aboard ship, served by white-gloved waiters.</description>
  <overnight>Aboard Nile Adventurer</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="9">
  <title>Disembark Ship / Abu Simbel / Cairo</title>
  <description>Disembark ship in Aswan before traveling to Abu Simbel. Here, in what was once the land of Nubia, you’ll be awed by the colossal Temple of Ramesses II, carved out of the solid rock face of a sandstone cliff, and the Temple of Queen Nefertari. Return to Cairo via a charter flight for a three-night stay in an ideally located, city-center hotel – stunning views of the Nile await from your room’s balcony.</description>
  <overnight>Semiramis InterContinental Cairo, Egypt</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="10">
  <title>Egyptian Museum / King Tut Treasures</title>
  <description>The ancient artifacts you’ll see on display at Cairo’s Egyptian Museum tell the story of nearly 5,000 years of human history in Egypt, including many of the treasures found in King Tutankhamun’s tomb. Tonight, enjoy a spectacular sound and light show set against the inspiring backdrop of the Pyramids and the Sphinx in Giza.</description>
  <overnight>Semiramis InterContinental Cairo, Egypt</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="11">
  <title>Exploring Cairo, Past and Present</title>
  <description>Start your day at a lecture given by a professor of modern Egyptian history, before exploring Old Cairo on a walking tour. Sights include Ben Ezra Synagogue, Roman ruins, the Coptic Christian Church of St. Sergius, 7th-century Amr Ibn Al-As Mosque and King Farouk’s tomb in the Al-Rifai Mosque. Join us for a farewell dinner tonight.</description>
  <overnight>Semiramis InterContinental Cairo, Egypt</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="12">
  <title>Journey Home</title>
  <description>Tour ends: Cairo. Fly home anytime. A transfer is included from your hotel to Cairo International Airport; allow a minimum of 2 1/2 hours for flight check-in.</description>
  <overnight></overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast</meals>
</itineraryDay>
  </itineraryDetails>
  <highlights>
		
				4-night Cruise on Nile Adventurer ~ Cairo ~ Luxor ~ Giza ~ Abu Simbel 
</highlights>
  <tauckValues>
    <value order="1">4-night Nile River cruise aboard the Nile Adventurer, with shore excursions to Egypts must-see sites</value><value order="2">Sightseeing of Egypts antiquities led by renowned Egyptologists &amp; your professional Tauck Director</value><value order="3">Sunset cocktail cruise aboard a traditional felucca on the River Nile</value><value order="4">Private horse-drawn carriage ride to Temple of Luxor</value><value order="5">Camel ride and sound &amp; light show at the Pyramids</value><value order="6">Guided visits to the Pyramids &amp; Sphinx, Egyptian Museum, Luxor Museum and much more</value><value order="7">Exploration of UNESCO World Heritage Sites including the Valleys of the Kings &amp; Queens</value><value order="8">Two private charter flights</value><value order="9">Most meals  28 (11 breakfasts, 9 lunches, 8 dinners)</value><value order="10">Gratuities to local guides, service charges, taxes, porterage and airport transfers</value>
  </tauckValues>  
  <departureDates>
    <date>
    <day>16</day>
    <month>9</month>
    <year>2010</year>
    <singlesPrice>6347</singlesPrice>
    <doublesPrice>5390</doublesPrice>
    <triplesPrice>0</triplesPrice>
    <quadsPrice>0</quadsPrice>
    <cabins>
<cabin>
  <categoryCode>EY 20101</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>1</occupancy>
  <description>Standard Cabin - Nile Deck</description>
  <suppliment>0</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>6347</totalPrice>
</cabin>
<cabin>
  <categoryCode>EY 20101</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>2</occupancy>
  <description>Standard Cabin - Nile Deck</description>
  <suppliment>0</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>5390</totalPrice>
</cabin>
<cabin>
  <categoryCode>EY 20102</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>1</occupancy>
  <description>Standard Cabin - Main Deck</description>
  <suppliment>246</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>6593</totalPrice>
</cabin>
<cabin>
  <categoryCode>EY 20102</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>2</occupancy>
  <description>Standard Cabin - Main Deck</description>
  <suppliment>100</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>5490</totalPrice>
</cabin>
<cabin>
  <categoryCode>EY 20103</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>1</occupancy>
  <description>Standard Cabin - Bridge Deck</description>
  <suppliment>351</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>6698</totalPrice>
</cabin>
<cabin>
  <categoryCode>EY 20103</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>2</occupancy>
  <description>Standard Cabin - Bridge Deck</description>
  <suppliment>200</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>5590</totalPrice>
</cabin>
<cabin>
  <categoryCode>EY 20104</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>1</occupancy>
  <description>Standard Cabin - Promenade Deck</description>
  <suppliment>508</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>6855</totalPrice>
</cabin>
<cabin>
  <categoryCode>EY 20104</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>2</occupancy>
  <description>Standard Cabin - Promenade Deck</description>
  <suppliment>300</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>5690</totalPrice>
</cabin>
<cabin>
  <categoryCode>EY 20105</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>1</occupancy>
  <description>Deluxe Cabin   - Main Deck</description>
  <suppliment>1138</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>7485</totalPrice>
</cabin>
<cabin>
  <categoryCode>EY 20105</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>2</occupancy>
  <description>Deluxe Cabin   - Main Deck</description>
  <suppliment>600</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>5990</totalPrice>
</cabin>
<cabin>
  <categoryCode>EY 20106</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>1</occupancy>
  <description>Presidential Suite Promenade</description>
  <suppliment>2151</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>8498</totalPrice>
</cabin>
<cabin>
  <categoryCode>EY 20106</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>2</occupancy>
  <description>Presidential Suite Promenade</description>
  <suppliment>1100</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>6490</totalPrice>
</cabin></cabins>
  </date>
  <date>
    <day>30</day>
    <month>9</month>
    <year>2010</year>
    <singlesPrice>6347</singlesPrice>
    <doublesPrice>5390</doublesPrice>
    <triplesPrice>0</triplesPrice>
    <quadsPrice>0</quadsPrice>
    <cabins>
<cabin>
  <categoryCode>EY 20101</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>1</occupancy>
  <description>Standard Cabin - Nile Deck</description>
  <suppliment>0</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>6347</totalPrice>
</cabin>
<cabin>
  <categoryCode>EY 20101</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>2</occupancy>
  <description>Standard Cabin - Nile Deck</description>
  <suppliment>0</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>5390</totalPrice>
</cabin>
<cabin>
  <categoryCode>EY 20102</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>1</occupancy>
  <description>Standard Cabin - Main Deck</description>
  <suppliment>246</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>6593</totalPrice>
</cabin>
<cabin>
  <categoryCode>EY 20102</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>2</occupancy>
  <description>Standard Cabin - Main Deck</description>
  <suppliment>100</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>5490</totalPrice>
</cabin>
<cabin>
  <categoryCode>EY 20103</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>1</occupancy>
  <description>Standard Cabin - Bridge Deck</description>
  <suppliment>351</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>6698</totalPrice>
</cabin>
<cabin>
  <categoryCode>EY 20103</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>2</occupancy>
  <description>Standard Cabin - Bridge Deck</description>
  <suppliment>200</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>5590</totalPrice>
</cabin>
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  <categoryCode>EY 20104</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>1</occupancy>
  <description>Standard Cabin - Promenade Deck</description>
  <suppliment>508</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>6855</totalPrice>
</cabin>
<cabin>
  <categoryCode>EY 20104</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>2</occupancy>
  <description>Standard Cabin - Promenade Deck</description>
  <suppliment>300</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>5690</totalPrice>
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  <categoryCode>EY 20105</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>1</occupancy>
  <description>Deluxe Cabin   - Main Deck</description>
  <suppliment>1138</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>7485</totalPrice>
</cabin>
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  <categoryCode>EY 20105</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>2</occupancy>
  <description>Deluxe Cabin   - Main Deck</description>
  <suppliment>600</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>5990</totalPrice>
</cabin>
<cabin>
  <categoryCode>EY 20106</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>1</occupancy>
  <description>Presidential Suite Promenade</description>
  <suppliment>2151</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>8498</totalPrice>
</cabin>
<cabin>
  <categoryCode>EY 20106</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>2</occupancy>
  <description>Presidential Suite Promenade</description>
  <suppliment>1100</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>6490</totalPrice>
</cabin></cabins>
  </date>
  <date>
    <day>18</day>
    <month>11</month>
    <year>2010</year>
    <singlesPrice>6347</singlesPrice>
    <doublesPrice>5390</doublesPrice>
    <triplesPrice>0</triplesPrice>
    <quadsPrice>0</quadsPrice>
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<cabin>
  <categoryCode>EY 20101</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>1</occupancy>
  <description>Standard Cabin - Nile Deck</description>
  <suppliment>0</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>6347</totalPrice>
</cabin>
<cabin>
  <categoryCode>EY 20101</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>2</occupancy>
  <description>Standard Cabin - Nile Deck</description>
  <suppliment>0</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>5390</totalPrice>
</cabin>
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  <categoryCode>EY 20102</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>1</occupancy>
  <description>Standard Cabin - Main Deck</description>
  <suppliment>246</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>6593</totalPrice>
</cabin>
<cabin>
  <categoryCode>EY 20102</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>2</occupancy>
  <description>Standard Cabin - Main Deck</description>
  <suppliment>100</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>5490</totalPrice>
</cabin>
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  <categoryCode>EY 20103</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>1</occupancy>
  <description>Standard Cabin - Bridge Deck</description>
  <suppliment>351</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>6698</totalPrice>
</cabin>
<cabin>
  <categoryCode>EY 20103</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>2</occupancy>
  <description>Standard Cabin - Bridge Deck</description>
  <suppliment>200</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>5590</totalPrice>
</cabin>
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  <categoryCode>EY 20104</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>1</occupancy>
  <description>Standard Cabin - Promenade Deck</description>
  <suppliment>508</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>6855</totalPrice>
</cabin>
<cabin>
  <categoryCode>EY 20104</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>2</occupancy>
  <description>Standard Cabin - Promenade Deck</description>
  <suppliment>300</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>5690</totalPrice>
</cabin>
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  <categoryCode>EY 20105</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>1</occupancy>
  <description>Deluxe Cabin   - Main Deck</description>
  <suppliment>1138</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>7485</totalPrice>
</cabin>
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  <categoryCode>EY 20105</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>2</occupancy>
  <description>Deluxe Cabin   - Main Deck</description>
  <suppliment>600</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>5990</totalPrice>
</cabin>
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  <categoryCode>EY 20106</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>1</occupancy>
  <description>Presidential Suite Promenade</description>
  <suppliment>2151</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>8498</totalPrice>
</cabin>
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  <categoryCode>EY 20106</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>2</occupancy>
  <description>Presidential Suite Promenade</description>
  <suppliment>1100</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>6490</totalPrice>
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  </date>
  <date>
    <day>9</day>
    <month>12</month>
    <year>2010</year>
    <singlesPrice>6347</singlesPrice>
    <doublesPrice>5390</doublesPrice>
    <triplesPrice>0</triplesPrice>
    <quadsPrice>0</quadsPrice>
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  <categoryCode>EY 20101</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>1</occupancy>
  <description>Standard Cabin - Nile Deck</description>
  <suppliment>0</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>6347</totalPrice>
</cabin>
<cabin>
  <categoryCode>EY 20101</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>2</occupancy>
  <description>Standard Cabin - Nile Deck</description>
  <suppliment>0</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>5390</totalPrice>
</cabin>
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  <categoryCode>EY 20102</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>1</occupancy>
  <description>Standard Cabin - Main Deck</description>
  <suppliment>246</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>6593</totalPrice>
</cabin>
<cabin>
  <categoryCode>EY 20102</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>2</occupancy>
  <description>Standard Cabin - Main Deck</description>
  <suppliment>100</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>5490</totalPrice>
</cabin>
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  <categoryCode>EY 20103</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>1</occupancy>
  <description>Standard Cabin - Bridge Deck</description>
  <suppliment>351</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>6698</totalPrice>
</cabin>
<cabin>
  <categoryCode>EY 20103</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>2</occupancy>
  <description>Standard Cabin - Bridge Deck</description>
  <suppliment>200</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>5590</totalPrice>
</cabin>
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  <categoryCode>EY 20104</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>1</occupancy>
  <description>Standard Cabin - Promenade Deck</description>
  <suppliment>508</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>6855</totalPrice>
</cabin>
<cabin>
  <categoryCode>EY 20104</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>2</occupancy>
  <description>Standard Cabin - Promenade Deck</description>
  <suppliment>300</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>5690</totalPrice>
</cabin>
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  <categoryCode>EY 20105</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>1</occupancy>
  <description>Deluxe Cabin   - Main Deck</description>
  <suppliment>1138</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>7485</totalPrice>
</cabin>
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  <categoryCode>EY 20105</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>2</occupancy>
  <description>Deluxe Cabin   - Main Deck</description>
  <suppliment>600</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>5990</totalPrice>
</cabin>
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  <categoryCode>EY 20106</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>1</occupancy>
  <description>Presidential Suite Promenade</description>
  <suppliment>2151</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>8498</totalPrice>
</cabin>
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  <categoryCode>EY 20106</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>2</occupancy>
  <description>Presidential Suite Promenade</description>
  <suppliment>1100</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>6490</totalPrice>
</cabin></cabins>
  </date>
  <date>
    <day>23</day>
    <month>12</month>
    <year>2010</year>
    <singlesPrice>6879</singlesPrice>
    <doublesPrice>5790</doublesPrice>
    <triplesPrice>0</triplesPrice>
    <quadsPrice>0</quadsPrice>
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<cabin>
  <categoryCode>EY 20101</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>1</occupancy>
  <description>Standard Cabin - Nile Deck</description>
  <suppliment>0</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>6879</totalPrice>
</cabin>
<cabin>
  <categoryCode>EY 20101</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>2</occupancy>
  <description>Standard Cabin - Nile Deck</description>
  <suppliment>0</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>5790</totalPrice>
</cabin>
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  <categoryCode>EY 20102</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>1</occupancy>
  <description>Standard Cabin - Main Deck</description>
  <suppliment>150</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>7029</totalPrice>
</cabin>
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  <categoryCode>EY 20102</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>2</occupancy>
  <description>Standard Cabin - Main Deck</description>
  <suppliment>100</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>5890</totalPrice>
</cabin>
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  <categoryCode>EY 20103</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>1</occupancy>
  <description>Standard Cabin - Bridge Deck</description>
  <suppliment>305</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>7184</totalPrice>
</cabin>
<cabin>
  <categoryCode>EY 20103</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>2</occupancy>
  <description>Standard Cabin - Bridge Deck</description>
  <suppliment>200</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>5990</totalPrice>
</cabin>
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  <categoryCode>EY 20104</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>1</occupancy>
  <description>Standard Cabin - Promenade Deck</description>
  <suppliment>459</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>7338</totalPrice>
</cabin>
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  <categoryCode>EY 20104</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>2</occupancy>
  <description>Standard Cabin - Promenade Deck</description>
  <suppliment>300</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>6090</totalPrice>
</cabin>
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  <categoryCode>EY 20105</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>1</occupancy>
  <description>Deluxe Cabin   - Main Deck</description>
  <suppliment>1367</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>8246</totalPrice>
</cabin>
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  <categoryCode>EY 20105</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>2</occupancy>
  <description>Deluxe Cabin   - Main Deck</description>
  <suppliment>600</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>6390</totalPrice>
</cabin>
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  <categoryCode>EY 20106</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>1</occupancy>
  <description>Presidential Suite Promenade</description>
  <suppliment>2534</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>9413</totalPrice>
</cabin>
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  <categoryCode>EY 20106</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>2</occupancy>
  <description>Presidential Suite Promenade</description>
  <suppliment>1100</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>6890</totalPrice>
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  </date>

</departureDates>

</tour><tour>
  <sourceId>FW2010</sourceId>
  <title>A Week In... Paris and Provence</title>
  <summary>
    <![CDATA[Experience what makes a France tour with Tauck unforgettable: an adventure walk on the Pont du Gard, an olive-oil tasting at Mas des Barres, exploring magical Monte-Carlo and Provence, a romantic dinner cruise on Paris&apos; River Seine and more. Select Small Group departure dates available with no more than 26 Tauck guests!
]]>
  </summary>
  <description>
    <![CDATA[Tauck&apos;s enticing week-long France tour takes you from the turquoise shades of the Côte d&apos;Azur to the pastel palette of Provence to glittering, romantic Paris. Visit charming Monaco; explore historic Avignon, Arles, and Aix-en-Provence, and see firsthand what inspired van Gogh in St-Rémy and Cézanne at Mont Ste-Victoire. Enjoy an olive oil tasting and lunch in Mas des Barres; a guided adventure walk on the Pont du Gard; and a high-speed rail journey to Paris for a three-night stay highlighted by a guided tour of the Louvre and a dinner cruise on the River Seine. There&apos;s no better way to experience France&apos;s many charms in one week!

Please note that April – June departures of A Week In... Paris and Provence
will follow a slightly different itinerary for the first two days,
staying at the Fairmont Monte Carlo in Monte-Carlo, Monaco on nights 1
and 2, and visiting Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild in St-Jean-Cap-Ferrat
on day 2. Click here to download the complete April – June itinerary.
]]>
  </description>
  <link>http://www.tauck.com/tours/europe-tours/france-tour/france-tour-fw-2010</link>
  <durationDays>8</durationDays>
  <durationDetails>8 days and 7 nights.</durationDetails>
  <tripType>ESCORTED_TOUR</tripType>
  <brand>TWD</brand>
  <subbrand>Europe</subbrand>
  <gradeRating>ALL_AGES</gradeRating>
  <comfortRating>COMFORTABLE_MIXED</comfortRating>
  <startingLocation>Nice, France</startingLocation>
  <prices>
    <price currency="USD">2990</price>
    <priceDetails><![CDATA[All prices are per person in U.S. dollars. ]]></priceDetails>
  </prices>
  <images>
    <image isMain="true">http://tools.tauck.com/Files/ItineraryImages/ListImages/img_FW2010_list.jpg</image>
    <image>http://tools.tauck.com/Files/ItineraryImages/altImages/FW2010_alt1.jpg</image>
    <image>http://tools.tauck.com/Files/ItineraryImages/altImages/FW2010_alt2.jpg</image>
    <image>http://tools.tauck.com/Files/ItineraryImages/altImages/FW2010_alt3.jpg</image>
    <image isMap="true">http://tools.tauck.com/Files/ItineraryImages/MapImages/map_FW2010.jpg</image>
  </images>
  <itinerary>
    <![CDATA[1. Arrive Nice 
Tour begins: 6:00 PM, Hôtel Negresco. A transfer is included from Nice Côte d’Azur Airport to the Hôtel Negresco in Nice, one of the world’s few privately owned palaces. Please join us for a welcome reception and dinner tonight. Meals D

2. Eze / Monaco Sightseeing / Nice 
First stop today is a visit to the medieval village of Eze, overlooking the Mediterranean. Travel to Monte-Carlo in the Principality of Monaco; explore the famed Palace area in Monaco-Ville, and have lunch on the terrace of the Fairmont Monte Carlo. Return to Nice for time at leisure. Meals BL

3. Aix-en-Provence / Château d’Estoublon
View Mont Ste-Victoire, featured in many of Cézanne’s works, en route to Aix-en-Provence. Join your local guide for a walking tour of this historic town known for its fountains, shaded squares and medieval center. Enjoy an afternoon visit to the private estate and winery of Château d’Estoublon in the Baux Valley; arrive early evening at your hotel in St-Rémy-de-Provence for a two-night stay. Meals BD

4. Arles / Pont du Gard / Mas des Barres
Travel to ancient Arles, whose gorgeous landscapes inspired painter Vincent van Gogh. A walking tour of Old Town takes in the Roman ruins; have lunch on your own. Continue on to the Pont du Gard for an adventurous walk on this ingenious 2,000-year-old Roman aqueduct spanning the River Gardon. Visit olive oil producer Moulin du Mas des Barres for an insider’s view of the olive orchards and oil production process, a tasting, dinner and Provençal folklore. Meals BD

5. Avignon / TGV Train to Paris
Drive to the walled city of Avignon, the papal residence in the 14th century. Visit Palais des Papes, built for the pontiffs who reigned in Avignon and one of Europe’s most important Gothic buildings, with a local guide. Travel first class this afternoon on the high-speed TGV to magical Paris. Meals BD

6. Joie de Vivre in Paris 
A city tour this morning gives you “the big picture” of Paris – landmark sights and includes the Arc de Triomphe, Champs Elysées, Place de la Concorde, the Eiffel Tower, Cathedral of Notre Dame, and Palais du Louvre. The rest of the day is free to explore Paris from your hotel in the city’s heart. Meals B

7. Musée du Louvre / Seine Dinner Cruise
Home to some of the world’s most beloved art masterpieces including the Mona Lisa and the Venus de Milo, the Musée du Louvre and its many treasures are yours to discover on a guided tour this morning. After spending the remainder of the day as you please, join us this evening for a private farewell dinner cruise along the River Seine... surrounded by the soft Parisian lights twinkling along the shore! Meals BD

8. Journey Home
Tour ends: Paris. Fly home anytime. A transfer from the Hotel du Louvre to Charles de Gaulle Airport is included. Allow 2 1/2 hours for flight check-in. Meals B

Please note that May and June departures of A Week In... Paris &amp; Provence will follow a slightly different itinerary for the first two days, staying at the Fairmont Monte Carlo in Monte-Carlo on nights 1 and 2, and visiting Villa Ephrussi de Rothschild in St-Jean-Cap-Ferrat on day 2. Please visit www.tauck.com for full itinerary details.

OBERAMMERGAU 4- or 5-DAY EXTENSIONS
On May – September departures of A Week In... Paris &amp; Provence, Tauck offers an opportunity to add a 4- or 5-day extension to Oberammergau for a performance of the Passion Play. Visit www.tauck.com for details.
]]>
  </itinerary>
  <itineraryDetails>
    <itineraryDay day="1">
  <title>Arrive Nice </title>
  <description>Tour begins: 6:00 PM, H&amp;#244;tel Negresco.  A transfer is included from Nice C&amp;#244;te d&apos;Azur Airport to the H&amp;#244;tel Negresco in Nice, one of the world&apos;s few privately owned palaces.  Please join us for a welcome reception and dinner tonight.  Meals D</description>
  <overnight>Hôtel Negresco, Nice, France / Fairmont Monte Carlo, Monaco (April – June only)*</overnight>
  <meals>Dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="2">
  <title>Eze / Monaco Sightseeing / Nice </title>
  <description>First stop today is a visit to the medieval village of Eze, overlooking the Mediterranean.  Travel to Monte&amp;#45;Carlo in the Principality of Monaco; explore the famed Palace area in Monaco&amp;#45;Ville, and have lunch on the terrace of the Fairmont Monte Carlo.  Return to Nice for time at leisure.  Meals BL</description>
  <overnight>Hôtel Negresco, Nice, France / Fairmont Monte Carlo, Monaco (April – June only)*</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="3">
  <title>Aix&amp;#45;en&amp;#45;Provence / Ch&amp;#226;teau d&apos;Estoublon</title>
  <description>View Mont Ste&amp;#45;Victoire, featured in many of C&amp;#233;zanne&apos;s works, en route to Aix&amp;#45;en&amp;#45;Provence.  Join your local guide for a walking tour of this historic town known for its fountains, shaded squares and medieval center.  Enjoy an afternoon visit to the private estate and winery of Ch&amp;#226;teau d&apos;Estoublon in the Baux Valley; arrive early evening at your hotel in St&amp;#45;R&amp;#233;my&amp;#45;de&amp;#45;Provence for a two&amp;#45;night stay.  Meals BD</description>
  <overnight>Hostellerie du Vallon de Valrugues, St-Rémy-de-Provence, France</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="4">
  <title>Arles / Pont du Gard / Mas des Barres</title>
  <description>Travel to ancient Arles, whose gorgeous landscapes inspired painter Vincent van Gogh.  A walking tour of Old Town takes in the Roman ruins; have lunch on your own.  Continue on to the Pont du Gard for an adventurous walk on this ingenious 2,000&amp;#45;year&amp;#45;old Roman aqueduct spanning the River Gardon.  Visit olive oil producer Moulin du Mas des Barres for an insider&apos;s view of the olive orchards and oil production process, a tasting, dinner and Proven&amp;#231;al folklore.  Meals BD</description>
  <overnight>Hostellerie du Vallon de Valrugues, St-Rémy-de-Provence, France</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="5">
  <title>Avignon / TGV Train to Paris</title>
  <description>Drive to the walled city of Avignon, the papal residence in the 14th century.  Visit Palais des Papes, built for the pontiffs who reigned in Avignon and one of Europe&apos;s most important Gothic buildings, with a local guide.  Travel first class this afternoon on the high&amp;#45;speed TGV to magical Paris.  Meals BD</description>
  <overnight>Hotel du Louvre, Paris, France</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="6">
  <title>Joie de Vivre in Paris </title>
  <description>A city tour this morning gives you “the big picture” of Paris &amp;#45; landmark sights and includes the Arc de Triomphe, Champs Elys&amp;#233;es, Place de la Concorde, the Eiffel Tower, Cathedral of Notre Dame, and Palais du Louvre.  The rest of the day is free to explore Paris from your hotel in the city&apos;s heart.  Meals B</description>
  <overnight>Hotel du Louvre, Paris, France</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="7">
  <title>Mus&amp;#233;e du Louvre / Seine Dinner Cruise</title>
  <description>Home to some of the world&apos;s most beloved art masterpieces including the Mona Lisa and the Venus de Milo, the Mus&amp;#233;e du Louvre and its many treasures are yours to discover on a guided tour this morning.  After spending the remainder of the day as you please, join us this evening for a private farewell dinner cruise along the River Seine...  surrounded by the soft Parisian lights twinkling along the shore! Meals BD</description>
  <overnight>Hotel du Louvre, Paris, France</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="8">
  <title>Journey Home</title>
  <description>Tour ends: Paris. Fly home anytime. A transfer from the Hotel du Louvre to Charles de Gaulle Airport is included. Allow 2 1/2 hours for flight check-in.</description>
  <overnight></overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast</meals>
</itineraryDay>
  </itineraryDetails>
  <highlights>		
Nice ~ Monaco ~ Aix-en-Provence ~ Arles ~ St-Remy-de-Provence ~ Paris 
</highlights>
  <tauckValues>
    <value order="1">TAUCKS YELLOW ROADS! Traveling along the backroads of Provence is a dramatic contrast of lush forests, olive groves, deep valleys, ancient villages splashed with sepia stones  and the extraordinary color and light that inspired great artists</value><value order="2">An olive oil tasting and dinner featuring Provenal folklore on a visit to Mas des Barres, an award-winning olive oil producer</value><value order="3">A guided adventure walk on the Pont du Gard</value><value order="4">A guided tour of Muse du Louvre</value><value order="5">A farewell dinner cruise on the River Seine in Paris</value><value order="6">Airport transfers upon arrival and departure</value><value order="7">13 meals (7 breakfasts, 1 lunch &amp; 5 dinners), service charges, gratuities to local guides, admission fees, taxes and porterage</value>
  </tauckValues>  
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    <date>
    <day>28</day>
    <month>5</month>
    <year>2010</year>
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    <triplesPrice>3440</triplesPrice>
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  <date>
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  <date>
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    <day>27</day>
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    <day>18</day>
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    <year>2010</year>
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    <day>25</day>
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    <day>29</day>
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  <date>
    <day>3</day>
    <month>9</month>
    <year>2010</year>
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  <date>
    <day>10</day>
    <month>9</month>
    <year>2010</year>
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    <doublesPrice>3590</doublesPrice>
    <triplesPrice>3540</triplesPrice>
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  <date>
    <day>17</day>
    <month>9</month>
    <year>2010</year>
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    <day>24</day>
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  <date>
    <day>26</day>
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    <year>2010</year>
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    <triplesPrice>3440</triplesPrice>
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  <date>
    <day>8</day>
    <month>10</month>
    <year>2010</year>
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    <doublesPrice>4160</doublesPrice>
    <triplesPrice>4110</triplesPrice>
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    <day>10</day>
    <month>10</month>
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</tour><tour>
  <sourceId>GA2010</sourceId>
  <title>Romantic Germany</title>
  <summary>
    <![CDATA[		

Including the Passion Play! 
- Experience the power of the 2010 Passion Play from Tauck&apos;s premier seating during a 2-night stay at a 5-star boutique hotel in Oberammergau on a 2-week Germany tour including Heidelberg, Baden-Baden, Munich, Dresden and Berlin.
]]>
  </summary>
  <description>
    <![CDATA[
		Including The Passion Play!
Explore a land of fascinating history, varied landscapes and diverse
cultural traditions on Tauck&apos;s comprehensive Germany tour including a
once-in-a-lifetime experience of the 2010 Oberammergau Passion Play!  Journey along the Yellow Roads
– such as the scenic Black Forest High Road – through fairy-tale
forests and past medieval castles. Immerse yourself in history in
Heidelberg, Munich, Weimar, Potsdam and Berlin. Enjoy Wiesbaden and
Baden-Baden, both famous around the world for their spas. Take a
private cruise on the Rhine; dine at an old Black Forest mill; visit
Bavarian King Ludwig&apos;s grand Linderhof Palace with its sumptuous
gardens; and enjoy a private tour of the New Green Vault in Dresden&apos;s
Royal Palace. And, of course, attend the 2010 Oberammergau Passion Play
in Tauck&apos;s premier seating – in the best category available – during a
two-night stay at a five-star luxury boutique hotel, exclusive to Tauck
during your stay, right in the heart of Oberammerau! From the Rhine
River valley to the mountains of Bavaria, there is something exciting
every day of Tauck&apos;s in-depth two-week Romantic Germany Including The Passion Play!
]]>
  </description>
  <link>http://www.tauck.com/tours/europe-tours/central-and-eastern-europe-tours/germany-tour-ga-2010</link>
  <durationDays>14</durationDays>
  <durationDetails>14 days and 13 nights.</durationDetails>
  <tripType>ESCORTED_TOUR</tripType>
  <brand>TWD</brand>
  <subbrand>Europe</subbrand>
  <gradeRating>ALL_AGES</gradeRating>
  <comfortRating>COMFORTABLE_MIXED</comfortRating>
  <startingLocation>Frankfurt, Germany</startingLocation>
  <prices>
    <price currency="USD">6190</price>
    <priceDetails><![CDATA[All prices are per person in U.S. dollars. ]]></priceDetails>
  </prices>
  <images>
    <image isMain="true">http://tools.tauck.com/Files/ItineraryImages/ListImages/img_GA2010_list.jpg</image>
    <image>http://tools.tauck.com/Files/ItineraryImages/altImages/GA2010_alt1.jpg</image>
    <image>http://tools.tauck.com/Files/ItineraryImages/altImages/GA2010_alt2.jpg</image>
    <image>http://tools.tauck.com/Files/ItineraryImages/altImages/GA2010_alt3.jpg</image>
    <image isMap="true">http://tools.tauck.com/Files/ItineraryImages/MapImages/map_GA2010.jpg</image>
  </images>
  <itinerary>
    <![CDATA[
		

1. Arrive Frankfurt / Wiesbaden


Tour begins: 6:00 PM, Hotel Nassauer Hof Wiesbaden. A transfer is included from the Frankfurt Airport to the Hotel Nassauer Hof Wiesbaden. Join us for a welcome reception followed by dinner at your hotel. Meals D
 
2. Rhine River / Lorelei Valley
Begin the day with a riverboat cruise on the Rhine River from St. Goarshausen to Rüdesheim. Glide past romantic castle ruins and lovely villages, and hear the story of the Lorelei. Explore Rüdesheim and the Drosselgasse, lined with ornate wine bars; attend a wine tasting. Meals B
 
3. Heidelberg / Black Forest
Journey today along Germany’s fast-paced autobahns, then enjoy a change of pace as you travel through rural villages of the Bergstrasse. Follow Tauck’s Yellow Roads through the mountains to Heidelberg for a walking tour of Heidelberger Schloss and free time in town. Arrive for two nights at one of Germany’s premier spa resorts. Meals BD
 
4. Baden-Baden, Spa Town
Drive to Baden-Baden for a walking tour of one of Europe’s most luxurious spa towns, followed by time to explore at leisure. Return to your hotel to spend the afternoon as you please. Dinner is in an old mill by a romantic brook within a quiet valley – a Tauck highlight! Meals BD
 
5. Lake Constance / Oberammergau
Drive nearly the length of the scenic Black Forest High Road, gradually descending into the foothills of the Alps to Lake Constance, Germany’s largest lake, for lunch on its shores. Travel through Friedrichshafen, of Zeppelin fame; arrive in the Bavarian village of Oberammergau for two nights at the Hotel Maximilian; this five-star luxury boutique hotel, ideally located in the heart of town, is exclusive to Tauck guests during your stay! Meals BLD
 
6. Oberammergau’s Passionsspiele
Join us for a visit and demonstration at the shop of one of Oberammergau’s celebrated woodcarvers, or explore the village on your own. Enjoy lunch at your hotel prior to a true highlight of your journey – Tauck’s premier seating, in the best category available, at a performance of the 2010 Oberammergau Passion Play! Produced only once every ten years (May through September), the tradition of the Passionsspiele began in 1634, when the villagers pledged to perform a play about the life of Jesus in gratitude for being spared from the plague. Involving more than 2,000 actors, technicians and musicians – each a village resident – today’s Passionsspiele includes dramatic scenes of the Passion (in High German; Tauck provides an English libretto), musical performances and Old Testament tableaux vivants. The performance begins in the afternoon and, after a break for dinner at a local restaurant, continues into the evening – a once-in-a-lifetime event, experienced in true Tauck Style! Meals BLD
 
7. Linderhof Palace / Munich
Depart Oberammergau and travel to Linderhof Palace, King Ludwig II of Bavaria’s opulent 19th-century “royal villa” inspired by the Palace of Versailles. Tour the palace with its grand staircase and Hall of Mirrors, and stroll through its magnificent gardens. Continue on to Munich for a two-night stay at Bayerischer Hof. Meals BLD
 
8. Discover Munich / Dachau
A sightseeing tour of the Bavarian capital includes Maximilianstrasse, the 17th-century Residenz, and the old town hall. Visit Alte Pinakothek, one of Munich’s most captivating museums, housing some of Europe’s finest art treasures. Explore Munich at leisure this afternoon, or join us for a poignant visit to Dachau. Meals B
 
9. Explore Historic Weimar
Arrive in Weimar, whose residents boasted Bach, Goethe, Liszt, and Schiller. A walking tour introduces you to the city’s highlights, and includes a look at its legacy as the birthplace of modern architecture following the Bauhaus movement in the early 1920s. Meals BLD
 
10. Baroque Art in the City of Dresden
Travel from Weimar to Dresden, capital city of the state of Saxony. Dresden’s Royal Palace was all but destroyed in the 1945 World War II bombing of the city; extensive restoration work and partial reconstruction brought the historic interior to new splendor in 2006. Between 1723 and 1730, August the Strong combined his collection of valuables and jewels with other Baroque and Renaissance masterpieces to create a museum in the palace. There are approximately 4,000 works of art on display. A private tour through the New Green Vault takes in art treasures of the Renaissance and Classicist periods. Meals BLD
 
11. Sightsee Dresden
Visit Frauenkirche (Church of Our Lady), a Protestant church destroyed in World War II – reconstruction was completed in 2005! See the 300-ft.-long Procession of Princes, the neo-Renaissance Semperoper (opera house), and the famous Baroque Zwinger, housing five diverse museums. Enjoy an afternoon exploring at leisure in this unique city on the beautiful Elbe River. Meals B
 
12. Potsdam / Berlin
Arrive in Potsdam; visit Cecilienhof Palace, a country manor house where Truman, Churchill and Stalin signed the Potsdam Treaty on August 2, 1945. It was designated a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1990, having once served as the residence for Crown Prince William of Prussia. Following lunch, travel to Berlin by way of Glienicke Bridge – famous during the Cold War as the location where spies were exchanged. Your hotel this evening is in a central location in Berlin. Meals BLD
 
13. Discover Berlin 
View the Deutscher Dom (German Cathedral) and the Französischer Dom (French Cathedral); Unter den Linden Boulevard; the Schauspielhaus; Brandenburg Gate; the Reichstag; and Checkpoint Charlie, the controversial crossing point between the former East and West Berlins. Spend the afternoon as you wish, and join us this evening for a farewell reception and dinner. Meals BD
 
14. Journey Home
Tour ends: Berlin. Fly home anytime. A transfer is included from The Westin Grand Berlin to Berlin-Tegel Airport. Allow 2 1/2 hours for flight check-in. Meals B
]]>
  </itinerary>
  <itineraryDetails>
    <itineraryDay day="1">
  <title>Arrive Frankfurt / Wiesbaden</title>
  <description>Tour begins: 6:00 PM, Hotel Nassauer Hof Wiesbaden. A transfer is included from the Frankfurt Airport to the Hotel Nassauer Hof Wiesbaden. Join us for a welcome reception followed by dinner at your hotel.</description>
  <overnight>Hotel Nassauer Hof, Wiesbaden, Germany</overnight>
  <meals>Dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="2">
  <title>Rhine River / Lorelei Valley</title>
  <description>Begin the day with a riverboat cruise on the Rhine River from St.  Goarshausen to R&amp;#252;desheim.  Glide past romantic castle ruins and lovely villages, and hear the story of the Lorelei.  Explore R&amp;#252;desheim and the Drosselgasse, lined with ornate wine bars; attend a wine tasting.  Meals B</description>
  <overnight>Hotel Nassauer Hof, Weisbaden, Germany</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="3">
  <title>Heidelberg / Black Forest</title>
  <description>Journey today along Germany&apos;s fast&amp;#45;paced autobahns, then enjoy a change of pace as you travel through rural villages of the Bergstrasse.  Follow Tauck&apos;s Yellow Roads through the mountains to Heidelberg for a walking tour of Heidelberger Schloss and free time in town.  Arrive for two nights at one of Germany&apos;s premier spa resorts.  Meals BD</description>
  <overnight>Schlosshotel Bühlerhöhe, Bühl, Germany</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="4">
  <title>Baden&amp;#45;Baden, Spa Town</title>
  <description>Drive to Baden&amp;#45;Baden for a walking tour of one of Europe&apos;s most luxurious spa towns, followed by time to explore at leisure.  Return to your hotel to spend the afternoon as you please.  Dinner is in an old mill by a romantic brook within a quiet valley &amp;#45; a Tauck highlight! Meals BD</description>
  <overnight>Schlosshotel Bühlerhöhe, Bühl, Germany</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="5">
  <title>Lake Constance / Oberammergau</title>
  <description>Drive nearly the length of the scenic Black Forest High Road, gradually descending into the foothills of the Alps to Lake Constance, Germany&apos;s largest lake, for lunch on its shores.  Travel through Friedrichshafen, of Zeppelin fame; arrive in the Bavarian village of Oberammergau for two nights at the Hotel Maximilian; this five&amp;#45;star luxury boutique hotel, ideally located in the heart of town, is exclusive to Tauck guests during your stay! Meals BLD</description>
  <overnight>Hotel Maximilian, Oberammergau, Germany</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="6">
  <title>Oberammergau&apos;s Passionsspiele</title>
  <description>Join us for a visit and demonstration at the shop of one of Oberammergau&apos;s celebrated woodcarvers, or explore the village on your own.  Enjoy lunch at your hotel prior to a true highlight of your journey &amp;#45; Tauck&apos;s premier seating, in the best category available, at a performance of the 2010 Oberammergau Passion Play! Produced only once every ten years (May through September), the tradition of the Passionsspiele began in 1634, when the villagers pledged to perform a play about the life of Jesus in gratitude for being spared from the plague.  Involving more than 2,000 actors, technicians and musicians &amp;#45; each a village resident &amp;#45; today&apos;s Passionsspiele includes dramatic scenes of the Passion (in High German; Tauck provides an English libretto), musical performances and Old Testament tableaux vivants.  The performance begins in the afternoon and, after a break for dinner at a local restaurant, continues into the evening &amp;#45; a once&amp;#45;in&amp;#45;a&amp;#45;lifetime event, experienced in true Tauck Style! Meals BLD</description>
  <overnight>Hotel Maximilian, Oberammergau, Germany</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="7">
  <title>Linderhof Palace / Munich</title>
  <description>Depart Oberammergau and travel to Linderhof Palace, King Ludwig II of Bavaria&apos;s opulent 19th&amp;#45;century “royal villa” inspired by the Palace of Versailles.  Tour the palace with its grand staircase and Hall of Mirrors, and stroll through its magnificent gardens.  Continue on to Munich for a two&amp;#45;night stay at Bayerischer Hof.  Meals BLD</description>
  <overnight>Bayerischer Hof, Munich, Germany</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="8">
  <title>Discover Munich / Dachau</title>
  <description>A sightseeing tour of the Bavarian capital includes Maximilianstrasse, the 17th&amp;#45;century Residenz, and the old town hall.  Visit Alte Pinakothek, one of Munich&apos;s most captivating museums, housing some of Europe&apos;s finest art treasures.  Explore Munich at leisure this afternoon, or join us for a poignant visit to Dachau.  Meals B</description>
  <overnight>Bayerischer Hof, Munich, Germany</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="9">
  <title>Explore Historic Weimar</title>
  <description>Arrive in Weimar, whose residents boasted Bach, Goethe, Liszt, and Schiller.  A walking tour introduces you to the city&apos;s highlights, and includes a look at its legacy as the birthplace of modern architecture following the Bauhaus movement in the early 1920s.  Meals BLD</description>
  <overnight>Hotel Elephant, Weimar, Germany</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="10">
  <title>Baroque Art in the City of Dresden</title>
  <description>Travel from Weimar to Dresden, capital city of the state of Saxony.  Dresden&apos;s Royal Palace was all but destroyed in the 1945 World War II bombing of the city; extensive restoration work and partial reconstruction brought the historic interior to new splendor in 2006.  Between 1723 and 1730, August the Strong combined his collection of valuables and jewels with other Baroque and Renaissance masterpieces to create a museum in the palace.  There are approximately 4,000 works of art on display.  A private tour through the New Green Vault takes in art treasures of the Renaissance and Classicist periods.  Meals BLD</description>
  <overnight>Hilton Dresden, Germany</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="11">
  <title>Sightsee Dresden</title>
  <description>Visit Frauenkirche (Church of Our Lady), a Protestant church destroyed in World War II &amp;#45; reconstruction was completed in 2005! See the 300&amp;#45;ft.&amp;#45;long Procession of Princes, the neo&amp;#45;Renaissance Semperoper (opera house), and the famous Baroque Zwinger, housing five diverse museums.  Enjoy an afternoon exploring at leisure in this unique city on the beautiful Elbe River.  Meals B</description>
  <overnight>Hilton Dresden, Germany</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="12">
  <title>Potsdam / Berlin</title>
  <description>Arrive in Potsdam; visit Cecilienhof Palace, a country manor house where Truman, Churchill and Stalin signed the Potsdam Treaty on August 2, 1945.  It was designated a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1990, having once served as the residence for Crown Prince William of Prussia.  Following lunch, travel to Berlin by way of Glienicke Bridge &amp;#45; famous during the Cold War as the location where spies were exchanged.  Your hotel this evening is in a central location in Berlin.  Meals BLD</description>
  <overnight>The Westin Grand, Berlin, Germany</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="13">
  <title>Discover Berlin </title>
  <description>View the Deutscher Dom (German Cathedral) and the Franz&amp;#246;sischer Dom (French Cathedral); Unter den Linden Boulevard; the Schauspielhaus; Brandenburg Gate; the Reichstag; and Checkpoint Charlie, the controversial crossing point between the former East and West Berlins.  Spend the afternoon as you wish, and join us this evening for a farewell reception and dinner.  Meals BD</description>
  <overnight>The Westin Grand, Berlin, Germany</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="14">
  <title>Journey Home</title>
  <description>Tour ends: Berlin. Fly home anytime. A transfer is included from The Westin Grand Berlin to Berlin-Tegel Airport. Allow 2 1/2 hours for flight check-in.</description>
  <overnight></overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast</meals>
</itineraryDay>
  </itineraryDetails>
  <highlights>
		
				
						Rhine River ~ Heidelberg ~ Baden-Baden ~ Oberammergau Passion Play ~ Munich ~ Weimar ~ Dresden ~ Berlin
				
		
</highlights>
  <tauckValues>
    <value order="1">A once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to attend a performance of the Passionsspiele (Passion Play) during a two-night stay at a 5-star boutique hotel in the heart of Oberammergau, exclusive to Tauck</value><value order="2">Taucks premier seating for the Oberammergau Passion Play, the best available for this world-famous event</value><value order="3">TAUCKS YELLOW ROADS! Tauck takes you along Germanys scenic Black Forest High Road into the foothills of the Alps</value><value order="4">A private riverboat cruise along the Rhine River, followed by a wine tasting in the Rhine River Valley</value><value order="5">Dinner at an old mill in the heart of the Black Forest</value><value order="6">A private tour of the New Green Vault in Dresdens Royal Palace</value><value order="7">A tour of opulent Linderhof Palace and gardens</value><value order="8">Airport transfers upon arrival and departure as noted</value><value order="9">29 meals, service charges, gratuities to local guides, admission fees, taxes and porterage</value>
  </tauckValues>  
  <departureDates>
    <date>
    <day>3</day>
    <month>6</month>
    <year>2010</year>
    <singlesPrice>7738</singlesPrice>
    <doublesPrice>6490</doublesPrice>
    <triplesPrice>6230</triplesPrice>
    <quadsPrice>0</quadsPrice>
    
  </date>
  <date>
    <day>12</day>
    <month>6</month>
    <year>2010</year>
    <singlesPrice>7738</singlesPrice>
    <doublesPrice>6490</doublesPrice>
    <triplesPrice>6230</triplesPrice>
    <quadsPrice>0</quadsPrice>
    
  </date>
  <date>
    <day>17</day>
    <month>6</month>
    <year>2010</year>
    <singlesPrice>7738</singlesPrice>
    <doublesPrice>6490</doublesPrice>
    <triplesPrice>6230</triplesPrice>
    <quadsPrice>0</quadsPrice>
    
  </date>

</departureDates>

</tour><tour>
  <sourceId>GB2010</sourceId>
  <title>England, Scotland &amp; Wales</title>
  <summary>
    <![CDATA[On a journey featuring the best of Scotland, Wales &amp; England travel from Edinburgh to the English Lake District; explore medieval Wales, Bath, Stonehenge and Stratford-upon-Avon; and end with two nights in the heart of London including a private dinner at the Tower of London!
]]>
  </summary>
  <description>
    <![CDATA[Explore the best of the British Isles on Tauck&apos;s Scotland, Wales and England travel experience. Discover Scotland&apos;s vibrant culture and rich history on visits to Edinburgh, Glasgow, Stirling Castle and Loch Lomond. Travel the Yellow Roads through England&apos;s Lake District and the Cotswolds... to Oxford&apos;s hallowed halls, Churchill&apos;s Blenheim Palace and Shakespeare&apos;s Stratford-upon-Avon... to mysterious Stonehenge, ancient Bath and sophisticated London... to unique Welsh treasures like Caernarfon and Portmeirion. Enjoy a private Tauck cruise on Loch Lomond... a classic rail journey through Wales&apos; Snowdonia Mountains... and a private dinner in the Tower of London, capped off by the historic Ceremony of the Keys!
]]>
  </description>
  <link>http://www.tauck.com/tours/europe-tours/great-britain-and-ireland-tours/england-travel-gb-2010</link>
  <durationDays>14</durationDays>
  <durationDetails>14 days and 13 nights.</durationDetails>
  <tripType>ESCORTED_TOUR</tripType>
  <brand>TWD</brand>
  <subbrand>Europe</subbrand>
  <gradeRating>ALL_AGES</gradeRating>
  <comfortRating>COMFORTABLE_MIXED</comfortRating>
  <startingLocation>Edinburgh, Scotland</startingLocation>
  <prices>
    <price currency="USD">5190</price>
    <priceDetails><![CDATA[All prices are per person in U.S. dollars. ]]></priceDetails>
  </prices>
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  <itinerary>
    <![CDATA[1. Arrive Edinburgh
Tour begins: 6:00 PM, Sheraton Grand Hotel &amp; Spa. Welcome to Edinburgh! A transfer is included from Edinburgh Airport to your first night’s hotel, the Sheraton Grand Hotel &amp; Spa. Your hotel is situated right in the heart of Edinburgh, nestled in the shadow of historical Edinburgh Castle. Join us tonight for a welcome reception and dinner. Meals D

2. Sightsee Edinburgh
A city sightseeing excursion with a local Scottish guide includes a visit to the majestic Palace of Holyroodhouse, the Queen’s official residence in Edinburgh (subject to closure). Step back in time as you explore Edinburgh Castle, dating back to the 12th century, and spend the afternoon at your leisure. Tours departing August 5 through August 26 will attend an outdoor evening performance of the famous Edinburgh Military Tattoo, one of Scotland’s most highly anticipated annual traditions. Meals B

3. Stirling / Loch Lomond / Glasgow
Sitting atop a volcanic crag surrounded by steep cliffs, Stirling Castle dominates the town below it. Visit this fine example of Scottish Renaissance architecture containing structures from the 14th through 18th centuries, where Mary, Queen of Scots was crowned in 1543. Cruise Loch Lomond aboard Tauck’s private boat, and take a tour of Glasgow on the River Clyde, Scotland’s largest city. Return to Edinburgh for dinner à la carte at your hotel. Meals BLD

4. Hadrian’s Wall / Lake District
Head south from Edinburgh bound for the English Lake District; en route, visit remnants of Hadrian’s Wall, built by the Romans across Britain in the 2nd century AD – now a UNESCO World Heritage Site – and have lunch. Your accommodations for the next two nights are located on a 35-acre estate in the heart of one of England’s largest national parks; enjoy a barbecue dinner tonight. Meals BLD

5. Levens Hall / Dove Cottage 
Start your day with a visit to Levens Hall &amp; Gardens; dating from 1350, this Elizabethan estate in Cumbria is renowned for its topiary garden begun in 1694. See where poet William Wordsworth lived from 1799 to 1808 while writing some of his most famous poems on a visit to Dove Cottage. Meals BLD

6. Chester / Portmeirion, Wales 
Originally built by the Romans, medieval Chester’s layout still follows the Roman pattern, and its ancient defensive walls create a pleasant walk around the old city center. Continue on to Portmeirion, Wales, for a two-night stay; this idyllic coastal village is renowned for its remarkable mix of Italianate pastel-colored architectural styles and landscape designs. Once a Victorian villa, the Hotel Portmeirion overlooks Cardigan Bay from its own peninsula. Meals BD

7. Caernarfon / Mountain Rail Excursion
Venture to Caernarfon for a guided tour of the 13th-century riverside castle, built by King Edward I, where the investiture of the Prince of Wales takes place. Take a classic rail trip through the breathtaking scenery of the Snowdonia Mountains, enjoying afternoon tea on the train. Return to Portmeirion for time at leisure and an à la carte dinner at the hotel. Meals BD

8. Stratford-Upon-Avon / Bath
After traversing the Welsh countryside, cross back into England and arrive in Stratford-upon-Avon. Tauck includes admission to sites associated with this famous town’s favorite son, William Shakespeare, which you can visit at your leisure prior to continuing on to beautiful Bath for a two-night stay at the elegant Macdonald Bath Spa Hotel. Meals BD

9. Experience the Best of Bath
Founded by the Romans as a thermal spa, Bath today reigns unequaled as a magnificent Georgian townscape crafted from native limestone. A guided tour visits the famous Roman baths and views the Royal Crescent, the Circus and other major sights. The rest of the day is free. Meals BL

10. Stonehenge / Oxford
View the mysterious monoliths of Stonehenge, England’s oldest prehistoric monument dating back 5,000 years, and one of the world’s wonders; the ancient stone circle’s origins are still being debated today. Travel to Oxford for a guided walking tour of esteemed Oxford University – the oldest university in the English-speaking world – and a two-night stay in town at the historic Macdonald Randolph Hotel; spend the rest of the day as you please. Meals BL

11. Blenheim Palace / The Cotswolds
Gain insights on the life of British statesman Sir Winston Churchill with visits to his birthplace, Blenheim Palace, now home to the Duke and Duchess of Marlborough, and his final resting place in Bladen. Explore the rolling Cotswolds landscapes, stopping in one of these charming villages for lunch. Join us back in Oxford for a special dinner. Meals BD


12. Windsor Castle / On to London
A drive through the countryside brings you to one of England’s most important addresses – Windsor Castle, home to British royalty for over 900 years; see St. George’s Chapel, Queen Mary’s Dolls’ House and the State Apartments (schedule permitting). Continue on to London for two nights in the city’s heart at The Langham, London. Meals B

13. Westminster Abbey / Private Evening
Explore Westminster Abbey, burial place of Britain’s monarchs since the 11th century. Guided sightseeing includes Big Ben, Piccadilly Circus, Buckingham Palace, Parliament, #10 Downing Street and Green Park. Join us tonight for an extraordinary private dinner at the Tower of London, home to Britain’s Crown Jewels, concluding with your witnessing the 700-year-old tradition of the Ceremony of the Keys – in which the Chief Yeoman Warder and members of the guard secure the Tower of London for the night! Meals BD

14. Journey Home
Tour ends: London. Fly home anytime. A transfer from The Langham, London to Heathrow Airport is included. Allow 3 hours for flight check-in at the airport. Meals B
]]>
  </itinerary>
  <itineraryDetails>
    <itineraryDay day="1">
  <title>Arrive Edinburgh</title>
  <description>Tour begins: 6:00 PM, Sheraton Grand Hotel &amp; Spa.  Welcome to Edinburgh! A transfer is included from Edinburgh Airport to your first night&apos;s hotel, the Sheraton Grand Hotel &amp; Spa.  Your hotel is situated right in the heart of Edinburgh, nestled in the shadow of historical Edinburgh Castle.  Join us tonight for a welcome reception and dinner.  Meals D</description>
  <overnight>Sheraton Grand Hotel &amp; Spa, Edinburgh, Scotland</overnight>
  <meals>Dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="2">
  <title>Sightsee Edinburgh</title>
  <description>A city sightseeing excursion with a local Scottish guide includes a visit to the majestic Palace of Holyroodhouse, the Queen&apos;s official residence in Edinburgh (subject to closure).  Step back in time as you explore Edinburgh Castle, dating back to the 12th century, and spend the afternoon at your leisure.  Tours departing August 5 through August 26 will attend an outdoor evening performance of the famous Edinburgh Military Tattoo, one of Scotland&apos;s most highly anticipated annual traditions.  Meals B</description>
  <overnight>Sheraton Grand Hotel &amp; Spa, Edinburgh, Scotland</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="3">
  <title>Stirling / Loch Lomond / Glasgow</title>
  <description>Sitting atop a volcanic crag surrounded by steep cliffs, Stirling Castle dominates the town below it.  Visit this fine example of Scottish Renaissance architecture containing structures from the 14th through 18th centuries, where Mary, Queen of Scots was crowned in 154  Cruise Loch Lomond aboard Tauck&apos;s private boat, and take a tour of Glasgow on the River Clyde, Scotland&apos;s largest city.  Return to Edinburgh for dinner &amp;#224; la carte at your hotel.  Meals BLD</description>
  <overnight>Sheraton Grand Hotel &amp; Spa, Edinburgh, Scotland</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="4">
  <title>Hadrian&apos;s Wall / Lake District</title>
  <description>Head south from Edinburgh bound for the English Lake District; en route, visit remnants of Hadrian&apos;s Wall, built by the Romans across Britain in the 2nd century AD &amp;#45; now a UNESCO World Heritage Site &amp;#45; and have lunch.  Your accommodations for the next two nights are located on a 35&amp;#45;acre estate in the heart of one of England&apos;s largest national parks; enjoy a barbecue dinner tonight.  Meals BLD</description>
  <overnight>Langdale Hotel &amp; Spa, Langdale, England</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="5">
  <title>Levens Hall / Dove Cottage </title>
  <description>Start your day with a visit to Levens Hall &amp; Gardens; dating from 1350, this Elizabethan estate in Cumbria is renowned for its topiary garden begun in 1694.  See where poet William Wordsworth lived from 1799 to 1808 while writing some of his most famous poems on a visit to Dove Cottage.  Meals BLD</description>
  <overnight>Langdale Hotel &amp; Spa, Langdale, England</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="6">
  <title>Chester / Portmeirion, Wales </title>
  <description>Originally built by the Romans, medieval Chester&apos;s layout still follows the Roman pattern, and its ancient defensive walls create a pleasant walk around the old city center.  Continue on to Portmeirion, Wales, for a two&amp;#45;night stay; this idyllic coastal village is renowned for its remarkable mix of Italianate pastel&amp;#45;colored architectural styles and landscape designs.  Once a Victorian villa, the Hotel Portmeirion overlooks Cardigan Bay from its own peninsula.  Meals BD</description>
  <overnight>Hotel Portmeirion, Portmeirion, Wales</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="7">
  <title>Caernarfon / Mountain Rail Excursion</title>
  <description>Venture to Caernarfon for a guided tour of the 13th&amp;#45;century riverside castle, built by King Edward I, where the investiture of the Prince of Wales takes place.  Take a classic rail trip through the breathtaking scenery of the Snowdonia Mountains, enjoying afternoon tea on the train.  Return to Portmeirion for time at leisure and an &amp;#224; la carte dinner at the hotel.  Meals BD</description>
  <overnight>Hotel Portmeirion, Portmeirion, Wales</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="8">
  <title>Stratford&amp;#45;Upon&amp;#45;Avon / Bath</title>
  <description>After traversing the Welsh countryside, cross back into England and arrive in Stratford&amp;#45;upon&amp;#45;Avon.  Tauck includes admission to sites associated with this famous town&apos;s favorite son, William Shakespeare, which you can visit at your leisure prior to continuing on to beautiful Bath for a two&amp;#45;night stay at the elegant Macdonald Bath Spa Hotel.  Meals BD</description>
  <overnight>Macdonald Bath Spa Hotel, Bath, England</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="9">
  <title>Experience the Best of Bath</title>
  <description>Founded by the Romans as a thermal spa, Bath today reigns unequaled as a magnificent Georgian townscape crafted from native limestone.  A guided tour visits the famous Roman baths and views the Royal Crescent, the Circus and other major sights.  The rest of the day is free.  Meals BL</description>
  <overnight>Macdonald Bath Spa Hotel, Bath, England</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="10">
  <title>Stonehenge / Oxford</title>
  <description>View the mysterious monoliths of Stonehenge, England&apos;s oldest prehistoric monument dating back 5,000 years, and one of the world&apos;s wonders; the ancient stone circle&apos;s origins are still being debated today.  Travel to Oxford for a guided walking tour of esteemed Oxford University &amp;#45; the oldest university in the English&amp;#45;speaking world &amp;#45; and a two&amp;#45;night stay in town at the historic Macdonald Randolph Hotel; spend the rest of the day as you please.  Meals BL</description>
  <overnight>Macdonald Randolph Hotel, Oxford, England</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="11">
  <title>Blenheim Palace / The Cotswolds</title>
  <description>Gain insights on the life of British statesman Sir Winston Churchill with visits to his birthplace, Blenheim Palace, now home to the Duke and Duchess of Marlborough, and his final resting place in Bladen.  Explore the rolling Cotswolds landscapes, stopping in one of these charming villages for lunch.  Join us back in Oxford for a special dinner.  Meals BD</description>
  <overnight>Macdonald Randolph Hotel, Oxford, England</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="12">
  <title>Windsor Castle / On to London</title>
  <description>A drive through the countryside brings you to one of England&apos;s most important addresses &amp;#45; Windsor Castle, home to British royalty for over 900 years; see St.  George&apos;s Chapel, Queen Mary&apos;s Dolls&apos; House and the State Apartments (schedule permitting).  Continue on to London for two nights in the city&apos;s heart at The Langham, London.  Meals B</description>
  <overnight>The Langham, London, England</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="13">
  <title>Westminster Abbey / Private Evening</title>
  <description>Explore Westminster Abbey, burial place of Britain&apos;s monarchs since the 11th century.  Guided sightseeing includes Big Ben, Piccadilly Circus, Buckingham Palace, Parliament, #10 Downing Street and Green Park.  Join us tonight for an extraordinary private dinner at the Tower of London, home to Britain&apos;s Crown Jewels, concluding with your witnessing the 700&amp;#45;year&amp;#45;old tradition of the Ceremony of the Keys &amp;#45; in which the Chief Yeoman Warder and members of the guard secure the Tower of London for the night! Meals BD</description>
  <overnight>The Langham, London, England</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="14">
  <title>Journey Home</title>
  <description>Tour ends: London. Fly home anytime. A transfer from The Langham, London to Heathrow Airport is included. Allow 3 hours for flight check-in at the airport.</description>
  <overnight></overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast</meals>
</itineraryDay>
  </itineraryDetails>
  <highlights>		
Edinburgh ~ Lake District ~ Portmeirion ~ Stratford-upon-Avon ~ Cotswolds ~ Bath ~ London 
</highlights>
  <tauckValues>
    <value order="1">TAUCK&apos;S YELLOW ROADS! In-depth exploration of the scenic treasures of Great Britain as Tauck takes you along Scotlands bonnie Loch Lomond to the English Lake District, seaside Portmeirion in Wales, the charming Cotswolds, Bath, Oxford and London</value><value order="2">Private dinner at the Tower of London, culminating in the historic Ceremony of the Keys</value><value order="3">Private Tauck cruise on Loch Lomond in Scotland</value><value order="4">Classic rail journey through the Snowdonia Mountains of Wales</value><value order="5">Airport transfers upon arrival and departure</value><value order="6">27 meals (13 breakfasts, 5 lunches &amp; 9 dinners), service charges, gratuities to local guides, admission fees, taxes and porterage</value>
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  <departureDates>
    <date>
    <day>27</day>
    <month>5</month>
    <year>2010</year>
    <singlesPrice>5865</singlesPrice>
    <doublesPrice>5190</doublesPrice>
    <triplesPrice>5047</triplesPrice>
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</tour><tour>
  <sourceId>GR2010</sourceId>
  <title>Grand Autumn New England</title>
  <summary>
    <![CDATA[Tauck&apos;s quintessential fall foliage tour indulges with the autumnal beauty and rich history of this special corner of America. Take a private schooner cruise, meet meteorologists at the Mount Washington Observatory, savor a culinary theatre experience by the New England Culinary Institute, enjoy stays at grand hotels and charming inns and much more.
]]>
  </summary>
  <description>
    <![CDATA[Join Tauck for a fall foliage tour showcasing this charming corner of America as the leaves turn from summer&apos;s green to the red, gold and orange of autumn. Begin in historic Boston with a two-night stay... explore New England’s seafaring heritage in Salem... take a private Tauck schooner cruise on Boothbay Harbor in Maine... head into the White Mountains of New Hampshire, and visit the meteorologists at the Mount Washington Observatory... go back in history at Shelburne Farms and the Shelburne Museum in Vermont&apos;s Green Mountains... partake in an extraordinary culinary theatre experience by the New England Culinary Institute... learn about maple &quot;sugarin&apos;&quot;... visit Lake Placid&apos;s Olympic Ski Jumping Complex... explore the exciting world of thoroughbred horse racing in Saratoga Springs, and much more on a New England fall foliage tour like no other!

]]>
  </description>
  <link>http://www.tauck.com/tours/usa-tours/new-england-travel/fall-foliage-tour-gr-2010</link>
  <durationDays>11</durationDays>
  <durationDetails>11 days and 10 nights.</durationDetails>
  <tripType>ESCORTED_TOUR</tripType>
  <brand>TWD</brand>
  <subbrand>USA and Canada</subbrand>
  <gradeRating>ALL_AGES</gradeRating>
  <comfortRating>COMFORTABLE_MIXED</comfortRating>
  <startingLocation>Boston, Massachusetts</startingLocation>
  <prices>
    <price currency="USD">3470</price>
    <priceDetails><![CDATA[All prices are per person in U.S. dollars. ]]></priceDetails>
  </prices>
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  <itinerary>
    <![CDATA[1. Arrive Boston
Tour begins: The Langham, Boston at 6:15 PM. A transfer is included from Boston’s Logan Airport to The Langham, Boston, a national historic landmark and one of the city’s finest hotels. Tauck’s 85-year history as an industry leader began in 1925 with a parade of seasonal delights throughout New England, a tradition of hospitality shared by your hotel. Join us for a welcome dinner tonight as autumn blankets the landscape with fall foliage. Meals D

2. The Footsteps of American History
From the hallowed halls of Harvard Yard to the gardens of Boston Common to stalwart Beacon Hill to colonial landmarks in the North End to the gentrified Victorian neighborhoods of the South End and down to the waterfront, history reverberates. We’ll show you the sights this morning on an orientation tour that includes a visit to the Harvard Museum of Natural History for a close-up look at the lifelike Glass Flowers Exhibit. Tauck’s city sightseeing continues followed by a chance to explore on your own. Nicknamed “America’s Walking City,” every Boston street reveals another fascinating discovery. Meals B

3. Salem to Coastal Maine
Not far from the storied streets of Boston proper sits the town of Salem, best known for its controversial witchcraft trials. But Salem also boasts a rich seafaring legacy that predates the founding of Boston, when it was an important center of merchant shipping. Learn more about the art and artifacts that Salem’s sea captains and merchants brought back from their voyages around the world during a visit to the Peabody Essex Museum, now in its third century; then set off for Maine. Continue on to your antique-filled country inn in Freeport. Freeport still retains its charm as a classic Maine village despite the influx of world-renowned retail shops that are found here. Many of them are housed in old Victorian and Federal-style homes and stores, reminiscent of days gone by. Meals BD

4. Boothbay Harbor by Land and Sea
Picturesque waterfront hamlets dot the Maine coastline, enticing with summer “cottages,” craggy cliffs and scenic ocean vistas. Journey along the shore this morning to “The Boothbays,” where a private schooner cruise of Boothbay Harbor combines with a guided visit led by local docents to the 248-acre Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens to offer authentic glimpses of daily life in this former fishing port. Enjoy a free evening in Freeport. Meals BL

5. Mountains of New Hampshire
Head inland today to the ancient White Mountains of New Hampshire, characterized by hillside forests, valley rivers, rocky ridges and brooding peaks. Enjoy scenic views of the lush landscapes during lunch in North Conway, highlighted by an interpretive presentation on New England ecology and wildlife – it serves as a great introduction to your afternoon drive along the meandering Kancamagus Highway, especially breathtaking when autumn leaves begin their annual transformation into the brilliant reds, golds and oranges of the much-acclaimed New England fall season. Continue on to the Omni Mount Washington Resort. Your overnight accommodations reflect the turn-of-the-century elegance that first lured wealthy summertime patrons from Boston, New York and Philadelphia back in 1902 when as many as fifty trains stopped here each day. Listed in the National Register of Historic Places, this four-seasons resort hotel is a masterpiece of Spanish Renaissance architecture and boasts a history as grand as the hotel itself. Meals BLD

6. Mountain Observatory / Vermont Life
Morning brings a fascinating excursion to the Mount Washington Observatory located on the mountain’s 6,288-ft. summit, where esteemed meteorologists have been keeping watch on the atmospheric phenomena of one of the planet’s most extreme places since 1932. You will have the unique opportunity to meet resident scientists during a lecture and Question &amp; Answer session. From the natural discoveries of your morning in the mountains to a demonstration of how maple syrup is made at a Vermont maple farm, the next few days indulge with a close-up look at life in New England. Spend the next two nights at The Essex, Burlington’s AAA-rated Four Diamond resort. Tonight, enjoy a special culinary demonstration and dinner by the reigning chefs of the renowned New England Culinary Institute. Meals BLD


7. Shelburne Museum
Time has a way of slowing down here, nowhere so vividly chronicled than at the 45-acre Shelburne Museum, recording three centuries of American ingenuity in 37 historic structures, including the horseshoe-shaped Circus Building, an 1890 Railroad Station, an 1871 Lake Champlain lighthouse and the rescued SS Ticonderoga steamship. Rediscover “Americana” at this lakeside restoration, viewing unusual exhibits of impressionist paintings, folk art, quilts, textiles and more, housed in 18th- and 19th-century buildings from New England and New York. Spend the afternoon as you wish back at your hotel and dine at your leisure tonight. Meals BLD

8. Shelburne Farms / Ferry to NY
Cow-spotted hills, country villages and dairy farms give travelers a distinct sense of the pastoral lifestyle that so delights both native and transplanted Vermonters. Take a guided tour of Shelburne Farms, created in 1886 as a model agricultural estate. Today, this grass-based dairy supports a herd of 125 purebred, registered Brown Swiss cows whose milk is transformed into award-winning farmhouse cheddar cheese right on the property. Go behind-the-scenes to explore the horse barn and meet the cheesemakers, before traveling by ferry across Lake Champlain to neighboring New York. Your final destination today is Lake Placid, nestled amidst the spectacular Adirondack Mountains. Your accommodations for the next two nights are at the incomparable Mirror Lake Inn where the scenery is stunning everywhere you look.  Meals BL

9. Life in Lake Placid
The alpine village of Lake Placid is probably best known as the site of the Winter Olympic Games in 1932 and again in 1980. A boat cruise on the lake celebrates the area’s idyllic beauty and a visit to the Olympic Ski Jumping Complex entertains with stories about the athletes who have medaled here. Later, visit the John Brown Farm and Gravesite; it was designated a National Historic Landmark to commemorate the legendary life of the man who took on the forces of slavery in the 1850s. The rest of the day is free; the resort boasts a fabulous spa as well as many outdoor activities. Meals BD

10. Fast Track to Saratoga Springs
Explore Saratoga Springs en route to Ludlow, Vermont. Visit the National Museum of Racing to learn about the history and new developments in the world of thoroughbred horse racing. The town’s mineral springs attracted Victorian society each summer to enjoy its therapeutic waters and watch their favorite horses at the Saratoga Racetrack. Stop at the Vermont Country Store on the way to the Jackson Gore Inn for an overnight stay and a farewell dinner. Meals BD

11. Journey Home
Journey back to Boston today, a distance of approximately 190 miles. More leg room on your state-of-the-art motor coach ensures a comfortable ride! Stop in historic Deerfield and have lunch at the Salem Cross Inn. A colonial restoration listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the original building was built by the grandson of the first male child born on the Mayflower in 1620. Tour ends: Boston Logan International Airport at 3:30 PM or The Langham, Boston at 4:30 PM (traffic permitting). Tauck can arrange additional nights at The Langham, Boston for guests wishing to spend more time in Boston. An airport transfer is included for these bookings. Allow a minimum of two hours for your flight check-in at the airport. Meals BL
]]>
  </itinerary>
  <itineraryDetails>
    <itineraryDay day="1">
  <title>Arrive Boston</title>
  <description>Tour begins: The Langham, Boston at 6:15 PM.  A transfer is included from Boston&apos;s Logan Airport to The Langham, Boston, a national historic landmark and one of the city&apos;s finest hotels.  Tauck&apos;s 85&amp;#45;year history as an industry leader began in 1925 with a parade of seasonal delights throughout New England, a tradition of hospitality shared by your hotel.  Join us for a welcome dinner tonight as autumn blankets the landscape with fall foliage.  Meals D</description>
  <overnight>The Langham, Boston, Massachusetts</overnight>
  <meals>Dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="2">
  <title>The Footsteps of American History</title>
  <description>From the hallowed halls of Harvard Yard to the gardens of Boston Common to stalwart Beacon Hill to colonial landmarks in the North End to the gentrified Victorian neighborhoods of the South End and down to the waterfront, history reverberates.  We&apos;ll show you the sights this morning on an orientation tour that includes a visit to the Harvard Museum of Natural History for a close&amp;#45;up look at the lifelike Glass Flowers Exhibit.  Tauck&apos;s city sightseeing continues followed by a chance to explore on your own.  Nicknamed “America&apos;s Walking City,” every Boston street reveals another fascinating discovery.  Meals B</description>
  <overnight>The Langham, Boston, Massachusetts</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="3">
  <title>Salem to Coastal Maine</title>
  <description>Not far from the storied streets of Boston proper sits the town of Salem, best known for its controversial witchcraft trials.  But Salem also boasts a rich seafaring legacy that predates the founding of Boston, when it was an important center of merchant shipping.  Learn more about the art and artifacts that Salem&apos;s sea captains and merchants brought back from their voyages around the world during a visit to the Peabody Essex Museum, now in its third century; then set off for Maine.  Continue on to your antique&amp;#45;filled country inn in Freeport.  Freeport still retains its charm as a classic Maine village despite the influx of world&amp;#45;renowned retail shops that are found here.  Many of them are housed in old Victorian and Federal&amp;#45;style homes and stores, reminiscent of days gone by.  Meals BD</description>
  <overnight>The Harraseeket Inn, Freeport, Maine</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="4">
  <title>Boothbay Harbor by Land and Sea</title>
  <description>Picturesque waterfront hamlets dot the Maine coastline, enticing with summer “cottages,” craggy cliffs and scenic ocean vistas.  Journey along the shore this morning to “The Boothbays,” where a private schooner cruise of Boothbay Harbor combines with a guided visit led by local docents to the 248&amp;#45;acre Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens to offer authentic glimpses of daily life in this former fishing port.  Enjoy a free evening in Freeport.  Meals BL</description>
  <overnight>The Harraseeket Inn, Freeport, Maine</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="5">
  <title>Mountains of New Hampshire</title>
  <description>Head inland today to the ancient White Mountains of New Hampshire, characterized by hillside forests, valley rivers, rocky ridges and brooding peaks.  Enjoy scenic views of the lush landscapes during lunch in North Conway, highlighted by an interpretive presentation on New England ecology and wildlife &amp;#45; it serves as a great introduction to your afternoon drive along the meandering Kancamagus Highway, especially breathtaking when autumn leaves begin their annual transformation into the brilliant reds, golds and oranges of the much&amp;#45;acclaimed New England fall season.  Continue on to the Omni Mount Washington Resort.  Your overnight accommodations reflect the turn&amp;#45;of&amp;#45;the&amp;#45;century elegance that first lured wealthy summertime patrons from Boston, New York and Philadelphia back in 1902 when as many as fifty trains stopped here each day.  Listed in the National Register of Historic Places, this four&amp;#45;seasons resort hotel is a masterpiece of Spanish Renaissance architecture and boasts a history as grand as the hotel itself.  Meals BLD</description>
  <overnight>Omni Mount Washington Resort, Bretton Woods, New Hampshire</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="6">
  <title>Mountain Observatory / Vermont Life</title>
  <description>Morning brings a fascinating excursion to the Mount Washington Observatory located on the mountain&apos;s 6,288&amp;#45;ft.  summit, where esteemed meteorologists have been keeping watch on the atmospheric phenomena of one of the planet&apos;s most extreme places since 1932.  You will have the unique opportunity to meet resident scientists during a lecture and Question &amp; Answer session.  From the natural discoveries of your morning in the mountains to a demonstration of how maple syrup is made at a Vermont maple farm, the next few days indulge with a close&amp;#45;up look at life in New England.  Spend the next two nights at The Essex, Burlington&apos;s AAA&amp;#45;rated Four Diamond resort.  Tonight, enjoy a special culinary demonstration and dinner by the reigning chefs of the renowned New England Culinary Institute.  Meals BLD</description>
  <overnight>The Essex, Essex Junction, Vermont</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="7">
  <title>Shelburne Museum</title>
  <description>Time has a way of slowing down here, nowhere so vividly chronicled than at the 45&amp;#45;acre Shelburne Museum, recording three centuries of American ingenuity in 37 historic structures, including the horseshoe&amp;#45;shaped Circus Building, an 1890 Railroad Station, an 1871 Lake Champlain lighthouse and the rescued SS Ticonderoga steamship.  Rediscover “Americana” at this lakeside restoration, viewing unusual exhibits of impressionist paintings, folk art, quilts, textiles and more, housed in 18th&amp;#45; and 19th&amp;#45;century buildings from New England and New York.  Spend the afternoon as you wish back at your hotel and dine at your leisure tonight.  Meals BLD</description>
  <overnight>The Essex, Essex Junction, Vermont</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="8">
  <title>Shelburne Farms / Ferry to NY</title>
  <description>Cow&amp;#45;spotted hills, country villages and dairy farms give travelers a distinct sense of the pastoral lifestyle that so delights both native and transplanted Vermonters.  Take a guided tour of Shelburne Farms, created in 1886 as a model agricultural estate.  Today, this grass&amp;#45;based dairy supports a herd of 125 purebred, registered Brown Swiss cows whose milk is transformed into award&amp;#45;winning farmhouse cheddar cheese right on the property.  Go behind&amp;#45;the&amp;#45;scenes to explore the horse barn and meet the cheesemakers, before traveling by ferry across Lake Champlain to neighboring New York.  Your final destination today is Lake Placid, nestled amidst the spectacular Adirondack Mountains.  Your accommodations for the next two nights are at the incomparable Mirror Lake Inn where the scenery is stunning everywhere you look.  Meals BL</description>
  <overnight>Mirror Lake Inn Resort and Spa, Lake Placid, New York</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="9">
  <title>Life in Lake Placid</title>
  <description>The alpine village of Lake Placid is probably best known as the site of the Winter Olympic Games in 1932 and again in 1980.  A boat cruise on the lake celebrates the area&apos;s idyllic beauty and a visit to the Olympic Ski Jumping Complex entertains with stories about the athletes who have medaled here. The rest of the day is free; the resort boasts a fabulous spa as well as many outdoor activities.  Meals BD</description>
  <overnight>Mirror Lake Inn Resort and Spa, Lake Placid, New York</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="10">
  <title>Fast Track to Saratoga Springs</title>
  <description>Explore Saratoga Springs en route to Ludlow, Vermont.  Visit the National Museum of Racing to learn about the history and new developments in the world of thoroughbred horse racing.  The town&apos;s mineral springs attracted Victorian society each summer to enjoy its therapeutic waters and watch their favorite horses at the Saratoga Racetrack.  Stop at the Vermont Country Store on the way to the Jackson Gore Inn for an overnight stay and a farewell dinner.  Meals BD</description>
  <overnight>Jackson Gore Inn, Ludlow, Vermont</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, dinner </meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="11">
  <title>Journey Home</title>
  <description>Journey back to Boston today, a distance of approximately 190 miles. More leg room on your state-of-the-art motor coach ensures a comfortable ride! Stop in historic Deerfield and have lunch at the Salem Cross Inn. A colonial restoration listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the original building was built by the grandson of the first male child born on the Mayflower in 1620. Tour ends: Boston Logan International Airport at 3:30 PM or The Langham, Boston at 4:30 PM (traffic permitting). Tauck can arrange additional nights at The Langham, Boston for guests wishing to spend more time in Boston. An airport transfer is included for these bookings. Allow a minimum of two hours for your flight check-in at the airport.</description>
  <overnight></overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch</meals>
</itineraryDay>
  </itineraryDetails>
  <highlights>
		
				Massachusetts ~ Maine ~ New Hampshire ~ Vermont ~ New York 
</highlights>
  <tauckValues>
    <value order="1">A visit with the resident meteorologists of the Mount Washington Observatory, one of the most extreme places on the planet for diverse atmospheric phenomena</value><value order="2">An interpretive ecology presentation that provides an in-depth look at the botany, wildlife and unique environment of the North Woods of New Hampshire</value><value order="3">A culinary dinner experience at The Inn at Essex where creative courses are prepared before you by chefs from the New England Culinary Institute</value><value order="4">Private Tauck cruise aboard a schooner on beautiful Boothbay Harbor in Maine</value><value order="5">A traditional New England meal at Salem Cross Inn and a maple sugarin demonstration at Morse Farm in Vermont</value><value order="6">A cruise on Lake Placid and a visit to the Olympic Ski Jumping Complex</value><value order="7">Airport transfers upon arrival and departure as noted</value><value order="8">23 meals, service charges, gratuities to local guides, admission fees, taxes and porterage</value>
  </tauckValues>  
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    <day>24</day>
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    <doublesPrice>3470</doublesPrice>
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  </date>

</departureDates>

</tour><tour>
  <sourceId>GTN2010</sourceId>
  <title>Treasures of the Aegean</title>
  <summary>
    <![CDATA[From the Parthenon to the Blue Mosque, see classical antiquities and UNESCO World Heritage Sites on an Aegean Sea and Greek Island cruise that features memorable hotel stays in Athens and Istanbul.
]]>
  </summary>
  <description>
    <![CDATA[This Turkey and Greek Island cruise explores Athens and Istanbul, and cruises through the Aegean aboard Wind Star / Wind Spirit, motor-sailing yachts that host just 148 guests. See the best of the ancient world, from the Parthenon to the Blue Mosque, plus museums stuffed with art and other treasures. Explore UNESCO World Heritage Sites, including the Acropolis, Mycenae, Delos, the medieval city of Rhodes, and the historic district in Istanbul. Examine ancient ruins in legendary Ephesus, and stroll the atmospheric towns of Mykonos, Fira, and Nafplion. In Istanbul, enjoy the Spice Bazaar, as well as ornate palaces and mosques.
]]>
  </description>
  <link>http://cruise-travel.tauck.com/tours/europe-tours/central-and-eastern-europe-tours/greek-island-cruise-gtn-2010</link>
  <durationDays>14</durationDays>
  <durationDetails>14 days and 13 nights.</durationDetails>
  <tripType>ESCORTED_TOUR</tripType>
  <brand>TauckAtSea</brand>
  <subbrand>Tauck at Sea</subbrand>
  <gradeRating>ALL_AGES</gradeRating>
  <comfortRating>COMFORTABLE_MIXED</comfortRating>
  <startingLocation>Athens, Greece</startingLocation>
  <prices>
    <price currency="USD">6790</price>
    <priceDetails><![CDATA[All prices are per person in U.S. dollars. ]]></priceDetails>
  </prices>
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  </images>
  <itinerary>
    <![CDATA[• = cruise day

1. Arrive Athens
Tour begins: 6:00 PM, Hotel Grande Bretagne, Athens, Greece. A transfer is included from Eleftherios Venizelos, Athens’ International Airport, to Hotel Grande Bretagne. Join us for a welcome reception and dinner tonight; the hotel has breathtaking views of the Acropolis and Parthenon. Meals D

2. The Acropolis / Archaeological Museum
An early morning visit up to the Acropolis avoids the crowds found later in the day; the ruins reign over the city in ancient splendor. Today’s sightseeing also includes a visit to the National Archaeological Museum of Athens. Considered one of the top ten museums in the world, its collection of Greek artifacts is unrivaled. Spend the afternoon as you wish in Athens; this cosmopolitan city artfully blends past with present along a unique promenade that is lined on one side by classic Greek antiquities and modern-day cafés, renovated mansions and art galleries on the other. Meals B

3. Ancient Epidaurus / Nafplion 
Travel to the ancient ruins of Epidaurus to see its spectacular theater. Spend the night in the harbor side town of Nafplion, one of the most charming towns in the Peloponnese. Dinner is at your leisure tonight. Meals BL

• 4. Mycenae / Embark Ship
Journey to Mycenae, a natural citadel that was first settled in 3,000 BC. Once the stronghold of the powerful Mycenaeans, today it is home to a noted archaeological site that includes the massive Lion Gate and Agamemnon’s Tomb. Embark your Wind Star ship in Piraeus. Meals BLD

• 5. Explore Mykonos and Delos
First stop is at Mykonos, weather permitting. A choice of activities includes a tour of the island or a boat ride to Delos, a key archaeological site that boasts remnants of its reign as the holiest of all Greek sanctuaries. Ancient laws forbid anyone to be born or die on this island; today no one is allowed to stay the night! Leave Delos well before sundown for an afternoon at leisure in Mykonos. Meals BLD

• 6. Cruise to Santorini Island
Rise early to observe the ship’s arrival in Santorini. Travel ashore by motor launch for an island tour that takes you to Oia and up to Fira, the island’s capital city. Iconic images of Fira’s blue-domed buildings combine with stunning views of the port to offer picture-perfect memories of this beautiful Greek island; see them by cable car, donkey or on foot as you make your way back down to Athinios Port. The ship offers tender service until it sets sail, giving you the opportunity to explore at leisure. Meals BLD

• 7. Discover the Island of Rhodes
Arrive at the Greek island of Rhodes today, basking in sunshine for more than 300 days a year. Join us for a guided tour of the medieval Old Town – there are about 200 lanes in this Hellenistic city that lead to columned ruins, temples and cobblestone streets dating back to the second century. Visit the grandiose Palace of the Grand Masters; located on the site of the medieval Palace of the Knights, this extravagant palace was destroyed in the mid-1800s and reconstructed in the 1930s in a medieval style. Meals BLD

• 8. Turkish Coast Antiquities
Chart a course to Bodrum, where whitewashed stucco houses dressed in bougainvillea line the hillsides and picturesque twin harbors welcome seafaring travelers. Visit St. Peter’s Castle on an informative guided tour, including the reconstructed shipwrecks of its Museum of Underwater Archaeology. A look inside the Mausoleum of Halicarnassus, one of the original Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, reveals the remains of a once magnificent marble tomb completed in 350 BC. Spend the afternoon as you wish in town or, weather permitting, head back to your ship for a swim in the crystal-clear sea right off the ship’s platform – just one of the many advantages of small ship cruising! Tonight’s entertainment aboard your Windstar ship includes a Greek belly dancing performance. Meals BLD

• 9. Cruise to Kusadasi / Explore Ephesus 
Cast anchor in the port city of Kusadasi and join us for an excursion to Ephesus, one of the world’s best-preserved classical cities revealing important vestiges of an ancient Roman civilization; in its heyday, marble lined the streets, fountains flowed, and an eternal flame burned upon a sacred altar. Visit the Selçuk Museum and take a walking tour of the ancient city and archaeological site, seeing the Odeon, once a gem of a small theatre, the acclaimed Temple of Hadrian, Trajan’s Fountain, the Arcadian Way and the two-tiered Library of Celsus. Set sail late today and savor a carefree evening aboard ship. Meals BLD

• 10. Day at Sea - Cruising the Aegean Sea
Spend a relaxing day at sea, where you are free to experience the many amenities and entertainment options aboard the ship. Perhaps you will challenge shipmates to a board game on the sun deck, take a refreshing swim in the outdoor pool, or indulge in a pampering massage or fitness program in the ship’s spacious 10,000 square foot WindSpa. You are welcome to visit the open bridge to view firsthand the navigational technologies of your sailing yacht – at the push of a button the sails unfurl in just two minutes! Meals BLD

11. Disembark / Istanbul 
Disembark in Istanbul for a three-night stay. Begin the day with a visit to exotic Topkapi Palace, residence of the sultans and the seat of power for the Ottoman Empire for 400 years, where you will see the legendary “Harem.” Süleymaniye Mosque, currently undergoing a renovation, is a must-see site; schedule permitting, explore its fascinating Mausoleums or visit Sehzade Kulliyesi (Crowned Prince Mosque Complex), considered a masterpiece of Ottoman architecture when it was built in the 16th century. Meals BLD

12. Hagia Sophia / Bosphorus Cruise
Guided sightseeing today includes the vast underground Basilica Cistern and one of the world’s true architectural gems, beautiful Hagia Sophia, a Byzantium masterpiece; first constructed in 537 AD and destroyed, rebuilt and modified throughout the centuries, this cathedral reigned for almost 1,000 years as the largest Christian Church in the world. Tauck treats you to an afternoon cruise along the Bosphorus before time at leisure to explore on your own. Meals BL

13. Blue Mosque / Covered Bazaar
Visit the Blue Mosque and the Hippodrome this morning. Stroll through the 4,000 shops in the Covered Bazaar, a kaleidoscope of colorful Turkish traditions, and spend time this afternoon discovering city sights as you wish. Join us for a farewell reception and dinner tonight. Meals BD

14. Journey Home
Tour ends: Istanbul. A transfer is included from Ceylan InterContinental Istanbul to Ataturk Airport. Allow 21/2 hours for flight check-in. Meals B

]]>
  </itinerary>
  <itineraryDetails>
    <itineraryDay day="1">
  <title>Arrive Athens</title>
  <description>Tour begins: 6:00 PM, Hotel Grande Bretagne, Athens, Greece.  A transfer is included from Eleftherios Venizelos, Athens&apos; International Airport, to Hotel Grande Bretagne.  Join us for a welcome reception and dinner tonight; the hotel has breathtaking views of the Acropolis and Parthenon.  Meals D</description>
  <overnight>Hotel Grande Bretagne, Athens, Greece</overnight>
  <meals>Dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="2">
  <title>The Acropolis / Archaeological Museum</title>
  <description>An early morning visit up to the Acropolis avoids the crowds found later in the day; the ruins reign over the city in ancient splendor.  Today&apos;s sightseeing also includes a visit to the National Archaeological Museum of Athens.  Considered one of the top ten museums in the world, its collection of Greek artifacts is unrivaled.  Spend the afternoon as you wish in Athens; this cosmopolitan city artfully blends past with present along a unique promenade that is lined on one side by classic Greek antiquities and modern&amp;#45;day caf&amp;#233;s, renovated mansions and art galleries on the other.  Meals B</description>
  <overnight>Hotel Grande Bretagne, Athens, Greece</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="3">
  <title>Ancient Epidaurus / Nafplion </title>
  <description>Travel to the ancient ruins of Epidaurus to see its spectacular theater.  Spend the night in the harbor side town of Nafplion, one of the most charming towns in the Peloponnese.  Dinner is at your leisure tonight.  Meals BL</description>
  <overnight>Nafplia Palace Hotel / Amphitryon Hotel, Nafplion, Greece</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch </meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="4">
  <title>Mycenae / Embark Ship</title>
  <description>Journey to Mycenae, a natural citadel that was first settled in 3,000 BC.  Once the stronghold of the powerful Mycenaeans, today it is home to a noted archaeological site that includes the massive Lion Gate and Agamemnon&apos;s Tomb.  Embark your Wind Star ship in Piraeus.</description>
  <overnight>Cruising aboard Wind Star / Wind Spirit</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="5">
  <title>Explore Mykonos and Delos</title>
  <description>First stop is at Mykonos, weather permitting.  A choice of activities includes a tour of the island or a boat ride to Delos, a key archaeological site that boasts remnants of its reign as the holiest of all Greek sanctuaries.  Ancient laws forbid anyone to be born or die on this island; today no one is allowed to stay the night! Leave Delos well before sundown for an afternoon at leisure in Mykonos.</description>
  <overnight>Cruising aboard Wind Star / Wind Spirit</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="6">
  <title>Cruise to Santorini Island</title>
  <description>Rise early to observe the ship&apos;s arrival in Santorini.  Travel ashore by motor launch for an island tour that takes you to Oia and up to Fira, the island&apos;s capital city.  Iconic images of Fira&apos;s blue-domed buildings combine with stunning views of the port to offer picture-perfect memories of this beautiful Greek island; see them by cable car, donkey or on foot as you make your way back down to Athinios Port.  The ship offers tender service until it sets sail, giving you the opportunity to explore at leisure.</description>
  <overnight>Cruising aboard Wind Star / Wind Spirit</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="7">
  <title>Discover the Island of Rhodes</title>
  <description>Arrive at the Greek island of Rhodes today, basking in sunshine for more than 300 days a year.  Join us for a guided tour of the medieval Old Town - there are about 200 lanes in this Hellenistic city that lead to columned ruins, temples and cobblestone streets dating back to the second century.  Visit the grandiose Palace of the Grand Masters; located on the site of the medieval Palace of the Knights, this extravagant palace was destroyed in the mid-1800s and reconstructed in the 1930s in a medieval style.</description>
  <overnight>Cruising aboard Wind Star / Wind Spirit</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="8">
  <title>Turkish Coast Antiquities</title>
  <description>Chart a course to Bodrum, where whitewashed stucco houses dressed in bougainvillea line the hillsides and picturesque twin harbors welcome seafaring travelers.  Visit St.  Peter&apos;s Castle on an informative guided tour, including the reconstructed shipwrecks of its Museum of Underwater Archaeology.  A look inside the Mausoleum of Halicarnassus, one of the original Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, reveals the remains of a once magnificent marble tomb completed in 350 BC.  Spend the afternoon as you wish in town or, weather permitting, head back to your ship for a swim in the crystal-clear sea right off the ship&apos;s platform - just one of the many advantages of small ship cruising! Tonight&apos;s entertainment aboard your Windstar ship includes a Greek belly dancing performance.</description>
  <overnight>Cruising aboard Wind Star / Wind Spirit</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="9">
  <title>Cruise to Kusadasi / Explore Ephesus </title>
  <description>Cast anchor in the port city of Kusadasi and join us for an excursion to Ephesus, one of the world&apos;s best-preserved classical cities revealing important vestiges of an ancient Roman civilization; in its heyday, marble lined the streets, fountains flowed, and an eternal flame burned upon a sacred altar.  Visit the Selçuk Museum and take a walking tour of the ancient city and archaeological site, seeing the Odeon, once a gem of a small theatre, the acclaimed Temple of Hadrian, Trajan&apos;s Fountain, the Arcadian Way and the two-tiered Library of Celsus.  Set sail late today and savor a carefree evening aboard ship.</description>
  <overnight>Cruising aboard Wind Star / Wind Spirit</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="10">
  <title>Day at Sea &amp;#45; Cruising the Aegean Sea</title>
  <description>Spend a relaxing day at sea, where you are free to experience the many amenities and entertainment options aboard the ship.  Perhaps you will challenge shipmates to a board game on the sun deck, take a refreshing swim in the outdoor pool, or indulge in a pampering massage or fitness program in the ship&apos;s spacious 10,000 square foot WindSpa.  You are welcome to visit the open bridge to view firsthand the navigational technologies of your sailing yacht - at the push of a button the sails unfurl in just two minutes!</description>
  <overnight>Cruising aboard Wind Star / Wind Spirit</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="11">
  <title>Disembark / Istanbul </title>
  <description>Disembark in Istanbul for a three&amp;#45;night stay.  Begin the day with a visit to exotic Topkapi Palace, residence of the sultans and the seat of power for the Ottoman Empire for 400 years, where you will see the legendary “Harem.” S&amp;#252;leymaniye Mosque, currently undergoing a renovation, is a must&amp;#45;see site; schedule permitting, explore its fascinating Mausoleums or visit Sehzade Kulliyesi (Crowned Prince Mosque Complex), considered a masterpiece of Ottoman architecture when it was built in the 16th century.  Meals BLD</description>
  <overnight>Ceylan InterContinental Istanbul, Turkey</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="12">
  <title>Hagia Sophia / Bosphorus Cruise</title>
  <description>Guided sightseeing today includes the vast underground Basilica Cistern and one of the world&apos;s true architectural gems, beautiful Hagia Sophia, a Byzantium masterpiece; first constructed in 537 AD and destroyed, rebuilt and modified throughout the centuries, this cathedral reigned for almost 1,000 years as the largest Christian Church in the world.  Tauck treats you to an afternoon cruise along the Bosphorus before time at leisure to explore on your own.  Meals BL</description>
  <overnight>Ceylan InterContinental Istanbul, Turkey</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="13">
  <title>Blue Mosque / Covered Bazaar</title>
  <description>Visit the Blue Mosque and the Hippodrome this morning.  Stroll through the 4,000 shops in the Covered Bazaar, a kaleidoscope of colorful Turkish traditions, and spend time this afternoon discovering city sights as you wish.  Join us for a farewell reception and dinner tonight.  Meals BD</description>
  <overnight>Ceylan InterContinental Istanbul, Turkey</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="14">
  <title>Journey Home</title>
  <description>Tour ends: Istanbul. A transfer is included from Ceylan InterContinental Istanbul to Ataturk Airport. Allow 21/2 hours for flight check-in.</description>
  <overnight></overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast</meals>
</itineraryDay>
  </itineraryDetails>
  <highlights>
		

7-Night Cruise on Wind Star / Wind Spirit ~ Athens ~ Santorini ~ Rhodes ~ Ephesus ~ Istanbul 
</highlights>
  <tauckValues>
    <value order="1">All gratuities to Tauck Director, ship staff, local guides and drivers</value><value order="2">Traveling with Taucks private group and the same Tauck Director on land and at sea aboard the ship</value><value order="3">Private Tauck Shore Excursions  $1,179 Value!</value><value order="4">3 nights at the Ceylan InterContinental Istanbul, in a room overlooking the Bosphorus and 2 nights at the Hotel Grande Bretagne in the heart of Athens</value><value order="5">Special Tauck Experiences include local cultural entertainment and music, and a boat trip in Istanbul on the Bosphorus</value><value order="6">Cocktail hour, all-day soft drinks, wine with dinner aboard ship</value><value order="7">Most meals (13 breakfasts, 10 lunches, 10 dinners) on land and at sea</value><value order="8">Service charges, applicable fuel surcharges, taxes, porterage and airport transfers</value>
  </tauckValues>  
  <departureDates>
    <date>
    <day>23</day>
    <month>6</month>
    <year>2010</year>
    <singlesPrice>10319</singlesPrice>
    <doublesPrice>7290</doublesPrice>
    <triplesPrice>6874</triplesPrice>
    <quadsPrice>0</quadsPrice>
    <cabins>
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  <categoryCode>GTN20101</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>1</occupancy>
  <description>Cat. B-Deck One (queen or 2 twins)</description>
  <suppliment>0</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>10319</totalPrice>
</cabin>
<cabin>
  <categoryCode>GTN20101</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>2</occupancy>
  <description>Cat. B-Deck One (queen or 2 twins)</description>
  <suppliment>0</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>7290</totalPrice>
</cabin>
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  <categoryCode>GTN20102</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>1</occupancy>
  <description>Cat. B-Deck One (3rd upper bed)</description>
  <suppliment>0</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>10319</totalPrice>
</cabin>
<cabin>
  <categoryCode>GTN20102</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>2</occupancy>
  <description>Cat. B-Deck One (3rd upper bed)</description>
  <suppliment>0</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>7290</totalPrice>
</cabin>
<cabin>
  <categoryCode>GTN20102</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>3</occupancy>
  <description>Cat. B-Deck One (3rd upper bed)</description>
  <suppliment>0</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>6874</totalPrice>
</cabin>
<cabin>
  <categoryCode>GTN20103</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>1</occupancy>
  <description>Cat. A-Deck Two (queen or 2 twins)</description>
  <suppliment>100</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>10419</totalPrice>
</cabin>
<cabin>
  <categoryCode>GTN20103</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>2</occupancy>
  <description>Cat. A-Deck Two (queen or 2 twins)</description>
  <suppliment>200</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>7490</totalPrice>
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  </date>
  <date>
    <day>25</day>
    <month>8</month>
    <year>2010</year>
    <singlesPrice>9819</singlesPrice>
    <doublesPrice>6790</doublesPrice>
    <triplesPrice>6374</triplesPrice>
    <quadsPrice>0</quadsPrice>
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  <categoryCode>GTN20101</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>1</occupancy>
  <description>Cat. B-Deck One (queen or 2 twins)</description>
  <suppliment>0</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>9819</totalPrice>
</cabin>
<cabin>
  <categoryCode>GTN20101</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>2</occupancy>
  <description>Cat. B-Deck One (queen or 2 twins)</description>
  <suppliment>0</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>6790</totalPrice>
</cabin>
<cabin>
  <categoryCode>GTN20102</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>1</occupancy>
  <description>Cat. B-Deck One (3rd upper bed)</description>
  <suppliment>0</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>9819</totalPrice>
</cabin>
<cabin>
  <categoryCode>GTN20102</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>2</occupancy>
  <description>Cat. B-Deck One (3rd upper bed)</description>
  <suppliment>0</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>6790</totalPrice>
</cabin>
<cabin>
  <categoryCode>GTN20102</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>3</occupancy>
  <description>Cat. B-Deck One (3rd upper bed)</description>
  <suppliment>0</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>6374</totalPrice>
</cabin>
<cabin>
  <categoryCode>GTN20103</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>1</occupancy>
  <description>Cat. A-Deck Two (queen or 2 twins)</description>
  <suppliment>100</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>9919</totalPrice>
</cabin>
<cabin>
  <categoryCode>GTN20103</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>2</occupancy>
  <description>Cat. A-Deck Two (queen or 2 twins)</description>
  <suppliment>200</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>6990</totalPrice>
</cabin></cabins>
  </date>
  <date>
    <day>1</day>
    <month>9</month>
    <year>2010</year>
    <singlesPrice>10319</singlesPrice>
    <doublesPrice>7290</doublesPrice>
    <triplesPrice>6874</triplesPrice>
    <quadsPrice>0</quadsPrice>
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  <categoryCode>GTN20101</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>1</occupancy>
  <description>Cat. B-Deck One (queen or 2 twins)</description>
  <suppliment>0</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>10319</totalPrice>
</cabin>
<cabin>
  <categoryCode>GTN20101</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>2</occupancy>
  <description>Cat. B-Deck One (queen or 2 twins)</description>
  <suppliment>0</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>7290</totalPrice>
</cabin>
<cabin>
  <categoryCode>GTN20102</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>1</occupancy>
  <description>Cat. B-Deck One (3rd upper bed)</description>
  <suppliment>0</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>10319</totalPrice>
</cabin>
<cabin>
  <categoryCode>GTN20102</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>2</occupancy>
  <description>Cat. B-Deck One (3rd upper bed)</description>
  <suppliment>0</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>7290</totalPrice>
</cabin>
<cabin>
  <categoryCode>GTN20102</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>3</occupancy>
  <description>Cat. B-Deck One (3rd upper bed)</description>
  <suppliment>0</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>6874</totalPrice>
</cabin>
<cabin>
  <categoryCode>GTN20103</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>1</occupancy>
  <description>Cat. A-Deck Two (queen or 2 twins)</description>
  <suppliment>100</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>10419</totalPrice>
</cabin>
<cabin>
  <categoryCode>GTN20103</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>2</occupancy>
  <description>Cat. A-Deck Two (queen or 2 twins)</description>
  <suppliment>200</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>7490</totalPrice>
</cabin></cabins>
  </date>

</departureDates>

</tour><tour>
  <sourceId>GTS2010</sourceId>
  <title>Treasures of the Aegean</title>
  <summary>
    <![CDATA[From the Parthenon to the Blue Mosque, see classical antiquities and UNESCO World Heritage Sites on an Aegean Sea and Greek Island cruise that features memorable hotel stays in Athens and Istanbul.
]]>
  </summary>
  <description>
    <![CDATA[Tauck&apos;s Greece tour explores Athens and Istanbul and cruises through the Aegean on a motor-sailing yacht. Cruise aboard Wind Star / Wind Spirit, with just 148 guests as you experience a Greece tour that is highlighted by a 7-day Greek Island cruise. See the best of the ancient world, from the Parthenon to the Blue Mosque, plus museums that entice with art and other treasures. Explore UNESCO World Heritage Sites, including the Acropolis, Mycenae, Delos, the medieval city of Rhodes, and the historic district in Istanbul. Examine ancient ruins in Epidaurus and legendary Ephesus, and stroll the atmospheric towns of Mykonos, Fira, and Nafplion. In Istanbul, meander through shops of the Bazaar and go inside ornate palaces and mosques. This Turkey and Greece tour, featuring a memorable small-ship Greek Island cruise, is one of Tauck&apos;s traditional best sellers!
]]>
  </description>
  <link>http://cruise-travel.tauck.com/tours/europe-tours/central-and-eastern-europe-tours/greece-tour-gts-2010</link>
  <durationDays>14</durationDays>
  <durationDetails>14 days and 13 nights.</durationDetails>
  <tripType>ESCORTED_TOUR</tripType>
  <brand>TauckAtSea</brand>
  <subbrand>Tauck at Sea</subbrand>
  <gradeRating>ALL_AGES</gradeRating>
  <comfortRating>COMFORTABLE_MIXED</comfortRating>
  <startingLocation>Istanbul, Turkey</startingLocation>
  <prices>
    <price currency="USD">6790</price>
    <priceDetails><![CDATA[All prices are per person in U.S. dollars. ]]></priceDetails>
  </prices>
  <images>
    <image isMain="true">http://tools.tauck.com/Files/ItineraryImages/ListImages/img_GTS2010_list.jpg</image>
    <image>http://tools.tauck.com/Files/ItineraryImages/altImages/GTS2010_alt1.jpg</image>
    <image>http://tools.tauck.com/Files/ItineraryImages/altImages/GTS2010_alt2.jpg</image>
    <image>http://tools.tauck.com/Files/ItineraryImages/altImages/GTS2010_alt3.jpg</image>
    <image isMap="true">http://tools.tauck.com/Files/ItineraryImages/MapImages/map_GTS2010.jpg</image>
  </images>
  <itinerary>
    <![CDATA[Tauck Yacht Cruise! Traces of ancient Greek and Turkish civilizations are explored on a 14-day journey that includes a cruise to the legendary Greek islands of Mykonos, Santorini, and Rhodes as well as the Turkish Riviera. Multiple-night stays in Athens and Istanbul, with in-depth guided sightseeing, highlight one of Tauck’s most popular cruises.

• = cruise day

1. Arrive Istanbul
Tour begins: 6:00 PM, Ceylan InterContinental Istanbul, Turkey. Transfers are included from Istanbul Ataturk International Airport to your hotel, Ceylan InterContinental Istanbul overlooking the Bosphorus Strait. Join us for a welcome reception and dinner tonight. Meals D

2. Topkapi Palace / Süleymaniye Mosque
Begin the day with a visit to exotic Topkapi Palace, residence of the sultans and the seat of power for the Ottoman Empire for 400 years, where you will see the legendary “Harem.” Süleymaniye Mosque, currently undergoing a renovation, is a must-see site; schedule permitting, explore its fascinating Mausoleums or visit Sehzade Kulliyesi (Crowned Prince Mosque Complex), considered a masterpiece of Ottoman architecture when it was built in the 16th century. Meals BLD

3. Hagia Sophia / Covered Bazaar
Sightseeing includes the vast underground Basilica Cistern and one of the world’s true architectural gems, beautiful Hagia Sophia. Completed in 537, this Byzantine masterpiece reigned as the world’s largest and most important religious monument for close to 1,000 years and astounds with multicolored tiles, mosaics and frescoes. Stroll through the 4,000 shops in the Covered Bazaar, a kaleidoscope of Turkish tradition, spread out over 65 streets. Spend the remainder of the day exploring at your leisure. Meals B

• 4. Blue Mosque / Embark Ship
Tour the light-filled Blue Mosque this morning, studded with domes and minarets on the outside and glistening with some 20,000 colored tiles and 260 stained-glass windows inside. Enjoy lunch and a boat ride on the Bosphorus before boarding the Wind Star / Wind Spirit for your 7-night small ship cruise along the Aegean Sea. Meals BLD

• 5. Day at Sea –– Cruising the Aegean Sea
Spend a relaxing day at sea as your yacht charts a course along the Turkish coast to Kusadasi with sails unfurled. Shipboard amenities and entertainment include a new on-board spa where pampering massages are available, a choice of dining venues and a fitness center. Meals BLD

• 6. Kusadasi / Ancient Ephesus
Cast anchor in the port city of Kusadasi and join us for an excursion to Ephesus, one of the world’s best-preserved classical cities revealing important vestiges of an ancient Roman civilization; in its heyday, marble lined the streets, fountains flowed, and an eternal flame burned upon a sacred altar. Visit the Selçuk Museum and take a walking tour of the ancient city and archaeological site, seeing the Odeon, once a gem of a small theatre, the acclaimed Temple of Hadrian, Trajan’s Fountain, the Arcadian Way and the two-tiered Library of Celsus, dating back to the second century. Your small ship charts a course for the historic Greek island of Rhodes tonight. Meals BLD

• 7. Discover the Island of Rhodes
Arrive at the Greek island of Rhodes after lunch today, basking in sunshine for more than 300 days a year. Join us for a guided tour of the medieval Old Town –– there are about 200 lanes in this Hellenistic city that lead to columned ruins, temples and cobblestone streets dating back to the second century. Visit the grandiose Palace of the Grand Masters; located on the site of the medieval Palace of the Knights, this extravagant palace was destroyed in the mid-1800s and reconstructed in the 1930s in a medieval style. Explore Rhodes on your own, before returning to the ship for dinner and a folkloric performance. Meals BLD

• 8. Turkish Coast Antiquities
Chart a course to Bodrum, where whitewashed stucco houses dressed in bougainvillea line the hillsides and picturesque twin harbors welcome seafaring travelers. Visit St. Peter’s Castle on an informative guided tour, including the reconstructed shipwrecks of its Museum of Underwater Archaeology. A look inside the Mausoleum of Halicarnassus, one of the original Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, reveals the remains of a once magnificent marble tomb completed in 350 BC. Spend the afternoon as you wish in town or, weather permitting, head back to your ship for a swim in the crystal-clear sea right off the ship’s platform –– just one of the many advantages of small ship cruising! Tonight’s entertainment includes Greek belly dancing. Meals BLD


• 9. Cruise to Santorini Island 
Rise early to observe the ship’s arrival in Santorini. Travel ashore by motor launch for an island tour that takes you to Oia and up to Fira, the island’s capital city. Iconic images of Fira’s blue-domed buildings combine with stunning views of the port to offer picture-perfect memories of this beautiful Greek island; see them by cable car, donkey or on foot as you make your way back down to Athinios Port. The ship offers tender service until it sets sail, giving you the opportunity to explore at leisure. Meals BLD

• 10. Explore Mykonos and Delos
First stop is at Mykonos, weather permitting. A choice of activities includes a tour of the island or a boat ride to Delos, a key archaeological site that boasts remnants of its reign as the holiest of all Greek sanctuaries. Ancient laws forbid anyone to be born or die on this island; today no one is allowed to stay the night! Leave Delos well before sundown for an afternoon at leisure in Mykonos. Meals BLD

11. Visit Epidaurus / Nafplion
Disembark in Piraeus and travel to the ancient ruins of Epidaurus to see its spectacular theater. Spend the night in the charming harbor side town of Nafplion, one of the most charming towns in the Peloponnese. Meals BL

12. Mycenae / Athens
Journey to Mycenae, first settled in 3,000 BC, to see the architectural remnants of Lion Gate and Agamemnon’s Tomb. Continue on to Athens, resplendent with sights that reflect the “glory that was Greece.” The evening is free for you to enjoy as you wish, perhaps visiting the New Acropolis Museum before dinner at your leisure. Meals BL

13. The Acropolis 
An early morning visit up to the Acropolis avoids the crowds found later in the day; the ruins reign over the city in ancient splendor. Today’s sightseeing also includes a visit to the National Archaeological Museum of Athens. Considered one of the top ten museums in the world, its collection of Greek artifacts is unrivaled. Spend the afternoon as you wish in Athens; this cosmopolitan city artfully blends past with present along a unique promenade that is lined on one side by classic Greek antiquities and modern-day cafés, renovated mansions and art galleries on the other. Join us for a farewell dinner tonight. Meals BD

14. Journey Home
Tour ends: Athens. A transfer from the Hotel Grande Bretagne to Eleftherios Venizelos, Athens’ Int’l Airport, is included. Allow 21/2 hours for flight check-in. Meals B

]]>
  </itinerary>
  <itineraryDetails>
    <itineraryDay day="1">
  <title>Arrive Istanbul</title>
  <description>Tour begins: 6:00 PM, Ceylan InterContinental Istanbul, Turkey.  Transfers are included from Istanbul Ataturk International Airport to your hotel, Ceylan InterContinental Istanbul overlooking the Bosphorus Strait.  Join us for a welcome reception and dinner tonight.  Meals D</description>
  <overnight>Ceylan InterContinental Istanbul, Turkey</overnight>
  <meals>Dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="2">
  <title>Topkapi Palace / S&amp;#252;leymaniye Mosque</title>
  <description>Begin the day with a visit to exotic Topkapi Palace, residence of the sultans and the seat of power for the Ottoman Empire for 400 years, where you will see the legendary “Harem.” S&amp;#252;leymaniye Mosque, currently undergoing a renovation, is a must&amp;#45;see site; schedule permitting, explore its fascinating Mausoleums or visit Sehzade Kulliyesi (Crowned Prince Mosque Complex), considered a masterpiece of Ottoman architecture when it was built in the 16th century.  Meals BLD</description>
  <overnight>Ceylan InterContinental Istanbul, Turkey</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="3">
  <title>Hagia Sophia / Covered Bazaar</title>
  <description>Sightseeing includes the vast underground Basilica Cistern and one of the world&apos;s true architectural gems, beautiful Hagia Sophia.  Completed in 537, this Byzantine masterpiece reigned as the world&apos;s largest and most important religious monument for close to 1,000 years and astounds with multicolored tiles, mosaics and frescoes.  Stroll through the 4,000 shops in the Covered Bazaar, a kaleidoscope of Turkish tradition, spread out over 65 streets.  Spend the remainder of the day exploring at your leisure.  Meals B</description>
  <overnight>Ceylan InterContinental Istanbul, Turkey</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="4">
  <title>Blue Mosque / Embark Ship</title>
  <description>Tour the light-filled Blue Mosque this morning, studded with domes and minarets on the outside and glistening with some 20,000 colored tiles and 260 stained-glass windows inside.  Enjoy lunch and a boat ride on the Bosphorus before boarding the Wind Star / Wind Spirit for your 7-night small ship cruise along the Aegean Sea.</description>
  <overnight>Cruising aboard Wind Star / Wind Spirit</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="5">
  <title>Day at Sea - Cruising the Aegean Sea</title>
  <description>Spend a relaxing day at sea as your yacht charts a course along the Turkish coast to Kusadasi with sails unfurled.  Shipboard amenities and entertainment include a new on-board spa where pampering massages are available, a choice of dining venues and a fitness center.</description>
  <overnight>Cruising aboard Wind Star / Wind Spirit</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="6">
  <title>Kusadasi / Ancient Ephesus</title>
  <description>Cast anchor in the port city of Kusadasi and join us for an excursion to Ephesus, one of the world&apos;s best-preserved classical cities revealing important vestiges of an ancient Roman civilization; in its heyday, marble lined the streets, fountains flowed, and an eternal flame burned upon a sacred altar.  Visit the Selçuk Museum and take a walking tour of the ancient city and archaeological site, seeing the Odeon, once a gem of a small theatre, the acclaimed Temple of Hadrian, Trajan&apos;s Fountain, the Arcadian Way and the two-tiered Library of Celsus, dating back to the second century.  Your small ship charts a course for the historic Greek island of Rhodes tonight.</description>
  <overnight>Cruising aboard Wind Star / Wind Spirit</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="7">
  <title>Discover the Island of Rhodes</title>
  <description>Arrive at the Greek island of Rhodes after lunch today, basking in sunshine for more than 300 days a year.  Join us for a guided tour of the medieval Old Town -- there are about 200 lanes in this Hellenistic city that lead to columned ruins, temples and cobblestone streets dating back to the second century.  Visit the grandiose Palace of the Grand Masters; located on the site of the medieval Palace of the Knights, this extravagant palace was destroyed in the mid-1800s and reconstructed in the 1930s in a medieval style.  Explore Rhodes on your own, before returning to the ship for dinner and a folkloric performance.</description>
  <overnight>Cruising aboard Wind Star / Wind Spirit</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="8">
  <title>Turkish Coast Antiquities</title>
  <description>Chart a course to Bodrum, where whitewashed stucco houses dressed in bougainvillea line the hillsides and picturesque twin harbors welcome seafaring travelers.  Visit St.  Peter&apos;s Castle on an informative guided tour, including the reconstructed shipwrecks of its Museum of Underwater Archaeology.  A look inside the Mausoleum of Halicarnassus, one of the original Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, reveals the remains of a once magnificent marble tomb completed in 350 BC.  Spend the afternoon as you wish in town or, weather permitting, head back to your ship for a swim in the crystal-clear sea right off the ship&apos;s platform -- just one of the many advantages of small ship cruising! Tonight&apos;s entertainment includes Greek belly dancing.</description>
  <overnight>Cruising aboard Wind Star / Wind Spirit</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="9">
  <title>Cruise to Santorini Island </title>
  <description>Rise early to observe the ship&apos;s arrival in Santorini.  Travel ashore by motor launch for an island tour that takes you to Oia and up to Fira, the island&apos;s capital city.  Iconic images of Fira&apos;s blue-domed buildings combine with stunning views of the port to offer picture-perfect memories of this beautiful Greek island; see them by cable car, donkey or on foot as you make your way back down to Athinios Port.  The ship offers tender service until it sets sail, giving you the opportunity to explore at leisure.</description>
  <overnight>Cruising aboard Wind Star / Wind Spirit</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="10">
  <title>Explore Mykonos and Delos</title>
  <description>First stop is at Mykonos, weather permitting.  A choice of activities includes a tour of the island or a boat ride to Delos, a key archaeological site that boasts remnants of its reign as the holiest of all Greek sanctuaries.  Ancient laws forbid anyone to be born or die on this island; today no one is allowed to stay the night! Leave Delos well before sundown for an afternoon at leisure in Mykonos.</description>
  <overnight>Cruising aboard Wind Star / Wind Spirit</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="11">
  <title>Visit Epidaurus / Nafplion</title>
  <description>Disembark in Piraeus and travel to the ancient ruins of Epidaurus to see its spectacular theater.  Spend the night in the charming harbor side town of Nafplion, one of the most charming towns in the Peloponnese.  Meals BL</description>
  <overnight>Nafplia Palace Hotel / Amphitryon Hotel, Nafplion, Greece</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="12">
  <title>Mycenae / Athens</title>
  <description>Journey to Mycenae, first settled in 3,000 BC, to see the architectural remnants of Lion Gate and Agamemnon&apos;s Tomb.  Continue on to Athens, resplendent with sights that reflect the “glory that was Greece.” The evening is free for you to enjoy as you wish, perhaps visiting the New Acropolis Museum before dinner at your leisure.  Meals BL</description>
  <overnight>Hotel Grande Bretagne, Athens, Greece</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="13">
  <title>The Acropolis </title>
  <description>An early morning visit up to the Acropolis avoids the crowds found later in the day; the ruins reign over the city in ancient splendor.  Today&apos;s sightseeing also includes a visit to the National Archaeological Museum of Athens.  Considered one of the top ten museums in the world, its collection of Greek artifacts is unrivaled.  Spend the afternoon as you wish in Athens; this cosmopolitan city artfully blends past with present along a unique promenade that is lined on one side by classic Greek antiquities and modern&amp;#45;day caf&amp;#233;s, renovated mansions and art galleries on the other.  Join us for a farewell dinner tonight.  Meals BD</description>
  <overnight>Hotel Grande Bretagne, Athens, Greece</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="14">
  <title>Journey Home</title>
  <description>Tour ends: Athens. A transfer from the Hotel Grande Bretagne to Eleftherios Venizelos, Athens’ Int’l Airport, is included. Allow 21/2 hours for flight check-in.&amp;nbsp;</description>
  <overnight></overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast</meals>
</itineraryDay>
  </itineraryDetails>
  <highlights>
		
				7-Night Cruise on Wind Star / Wind Spirit ~ Athens ~ Santorini ~ Istanbul 
</highlights>
  <tauckValues>
    <value order="1">All gratuities to Tauck Director, ship staff, local guides and drivers</value><value order="2">Traveling with Taucks private group and the same Tauck Director on land and at sea aboard the ship</value><value order="3">Private Tauck Shore Excursions  $1,179 Value!</value><value order="4">3 nights at the Ceylan InterContinental Istanbul, in a room overlooking the Bosphorus and 2 nights at the Hotel Grande Bretagne in the heart of Athens</value><value order="5">Special Tauck Experiences include local cultural entertainment and music, and a boat trip in Istanbul on the Bosphorus</value><value order="6">Cocktail hour, all-day soft drinks, wine with dinner aboard ship</value><value order="7">Most meals (13 breakfasts, 10 lunches, 10 dinners) on land and at sea</value><value order="8">Service charges, applicable fuel surcharges, taxes, porterage and airport transfers</value>
  </tauckValues>  
  <departureDates>
    <date>
    <day>16</day>
    <month>6</month>
    <year>2010</year>
    <singlesPrice>10319</singlesPrice>
    <doublesPrice>7290</doublesPrice>
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    <year>2010</year>
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</tour><tour>
  <sourceId>HM2010</sourceId>
  <title>Cruising Mediterranean Shores</title>
  <summary>
    <![CDATA[The highlights of the Western Mediterranean Sea are explored aboard Le Levant on a 13-day journey that includes Monte-Carlo, Barcelona, Sicily, Tunisia, Palma de Majorca, Naples, and the ruins of Pompeii, plus two nights on land in glorious Rome.
]]>
  </summary>
  <description>
    <![CDATA[Spend two nights in Rome, enriched by a Tauck Exclusive – an after-hours guided visit to the Vatican Museums and the Sistine Chapel... without the daytime crowds. Then set sail aboard Le Levant, bound for Mediterranean Sea ports of call in Italy, Sicily, Tunisia, Spain and Monaco. Tour Monaco’s glittering capital, Monte-Carlo... Italy beckons with visits to Tuscany, Naples, Pompeii and Sicily.... sample the pleasures of Spain in fabulous Barcelona and lovely Palma de Majorca in the Balearic Islands.... explore Tunisia and the ruins of ancient Carthage... magical  Mediterranean Sea ports of call aboard Le Levant!
]]>
  </description>
  <link>http://cruise-travel.tauck.com/tours/europe-tours/mediterranean-tours/mediterranean-sea-hm-2010</link>
  <durationDays>13</durationDays>
  <durationDetails>13 days and 12 nights.</durationDetails>
  <tripType>ESCORTED_TOUR</tripType>
  <brand>TauckAtSea</brand>
  <subbrand>Tauck at Sea</subbrand>
  <gradeRating>ALL_AGES</gradeRating>
  <comfortRating>COMFORTABLE_MIXED</comfortRating>
  <startingLocation>Rome, Italy</startingLocation>
  <prices>
    <price currency="USD">7890</price>
    <priceDetails><![CDATA[All prices are per person in U.S. dollars. ]]></priceDetails>
  </prices>
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    <image isMain="true">http://tools.tauck.com/Files/ItineraryImages/ListImages/img_HM2010_list.jpg</image>
    <image>http://tools.tauck.com/Files/ItineraryImages/altImages/HM2010_alt1.jpg</image>
    <image>http://tools.tauck.com/Files/ItineraryImages/altImages/HM2010_alt2.jpg</image>
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  <itinerary>
    <![CDATA[Romantic, enchanting, charming and delightful aptly describe the timeless ports of the Mediterranean you’ll explore with Tauck on a cruise aboard the yacht Le Levant. A two-night stay in Rome at a 5-star deluxe resort hotel complements Tauck’s in-depth sightseeing. 

• = cruise day

1. Arrive Rome
Tour begins: 6:30 PM, Rome Cavalieri, The Waldorf=Astoria Collection. A transfer is included from Rome’s Leonardo da Vinci Airport in Fiumicino to Rome Cavalieri, The Waldorf=Astoria Collection, a 5-star oasis of tranquility within 15 private acres of lush parkland with Vatican views. Join us for a welcome reception and dinner tonight. Meals D

2. Rome / After-Hours Vatican Visit
After a Rome city tour including Piazza Barberini, Bernini’s fountain, the Circus Maximus, the Forum and the Colosseum, enjoy a Tauck Exclusive – an after-hours tour of the Vatican Museums (day may vary); visit the Candelabra and Map galleries, the Tapestries and the Sistine Chapel without crowds! Meals B

• 3. Glories of Rome / Embark Le Levant
This morning’s sightseeing features a guided tour of St. Peter’s Basilica, the largest Roman Catholic cathedral in the world. Then it’s on to the port of Civitavecchia to board the yacht Le Levant for your 10-night cruise! Meals BLD

• 4. Life in Tuscany / Remarkable Pisa
Experience daily life “under the Tuscan sun‚” on a private Tauck shore excursion that includes lunch in the town of Lucca. Continue on to the Tuscan city of Pisa, which became a center of wealth in the Middle Ages thanks to its impressive navy and powerful position in world trade. A walking tour takes you through the “Square of Miracles,” where four major works of medieval architecture – including Pisa’s inimitable Leaning Tower – are found. Meals BLD

• 5. Monte-Carlo, Monaco 
Upon Le Levant’s arrival in glittering, world-famous Monte-Carlo, discover the jet-setting capital of the tiny Principality of Monaco on a sightseeing tour that includes “the Rock,” – the city’s Old Town – and the Cathedral, the final resting place of Monaco’s late royal couple, Prince Rainier and Princess Grace. Meals BLD

• 6. Cruise to Barcelona / Day at Sea
As Le Levant traverses the western Mediterranean en route to Barcelona on the northeast coast of Spain, get to know your yacht during a full day at sea – along with the Captain and crew. Unlike aboard larger vessels, cruising aboard Le Levant is like sailing with friends... and you’re always welcome to visit the bridge! Meals BLD

• 7. Savor the Day in Barcelona
Dock in the Catalonian city of Barcelona on Spain’s Mediterranean coast today. Sightseeing includes the Barri Gòtic, Las Ramblas and Gaudí’s unfinished La Sagrada Familia, followed by time to explore as you wish. Tauck includes admission to the Picasso Museum and private shuttle bus transfers between the ship and the city for Tauck guests only. Enjoy a special tapas dinner tonight! Meals BLD

• 8. Enjoy the Pleasures of Majorca
Call on Majorca today. A walking tour of Palma de Majorca includes a visit to the cathedral and lunch. Continue to 14th-century Valldemossa on the north coast. Meals BLD

• 9. Sail to Tunisia / Day at Sea
Spend a relaxing day at sea as your ship heads south to Tunisia on the North African coast. Meals BLD

• 10. Explore Tunisia &amp; Ancient Carthage
Inspiring discoveries in Tunisia include the Roman mosaics on a visit to the Bardo Museum. Take a walking tour of Mdina, and explore the ruins of Carthage before reboarding Le Levant and charting a course for Sicily. Meals BLD

• 11. A Taste of Palermo
Dock in Sicily at the historic port of Palermo, noted for its colorful history and culinary specialties. See Porto Nuovo, Palazzo dei Normani, 16th-century Fontana Pretoria, and Teatro Massimo. Sample regional cuisine at a local restaurant in Palermo and enjoy time at leisure. Meals BLD

• 12. Discover Naples / Ancient Pompeii
Go ashore at Naples for a guided tour of the antiquities of ancient Pompeii, frozen in time by volcanic ash. After lunch, join us on a guided visit to the Museo Archeologico Nazionale in Naples. The rest of the day is free. Meals BLD

13. Disembark Ship / Journey Home
Return to Civitavecchia; disembark Le Levant this morning for an included transfer to the Rome airport. Tour ends: 9:30 AM at Rome’s Leonardo da Vinci Airport in Fiumicino. Allow 21/2 hours for flight check-in. Meals B

]]>
  </itinerary>
  <itineraryDetails>
    <itineraryDay day="1">
  <title>Arrive Rome</title>
  <description>Tour begins: 6:30 PM, Rome Cavalieri, The Waldorf=Astoria Collection.  A transfer is included from Rome&apos;s Leonardo da Vinci Airport in Fiumicino to Rome Cavalieri, The Waldorf=Astoria Collection, a 5&amp;#45;star oasis of tranquility within 15 private acres of lush parkland with Vatican views.  Join us for a welcome reception and dinner tonight.  Meals D</description>
  <overnight>Rome Cavalieri, The Waldorf=Astoria Collection, Rome, Italy</overnight>
  <meals>Dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="2">
  <title>Rome / After&amp;#45;Hours Vatican Visit</title>
  <description>After a Rome city tour including Piazza Barberini, Bernini&apos;s fountain, the Circus Maximus, the Forum and the Colosseum, enjoy a Tauck Exclusive &amp;#45; an after&amp;#45;hours tour of the Vatican Museums (day may vary); visit the Candelabra and Map galleries, the Tapestries and the Sistine Chapel without crowds! Meals B</description>
  <overnight>Rome Cavalieri, The Waldorf=Astoria Collection, Rome, Italy</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="3">
  <title>Glories of Rome / Embark Le Levant</title>
  <description>This morning&apos;s sightseeing features a guided tour of St.  Peter&apos;s Basilica, the largest Roman Catholic cathedral in the world.  Then it&apos;s on to the port of Civitavecchia to board the yacht Le Levant for your 10-night cruise!</description>
  <overnight>Cruising aboard Le Levant</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="4">
  <title>Life in Tuscany / Remarkable Pisa</title>
  <description>Experience daily life “under the Tuscan sun‚” on a private Tauck shore excursion that includes lunch in the town of Lucca.  Continue on to the Tuscan city of Pisa, which became a center of wealth in the Middle Ages thanks to its impressive navy and powerful position in world trade.  A walking tour takes you through the “Square of Miracles,” where four major works of medieval architecture - including Pisa&apos;s inimitable Leaning Tower - are found.</description>
  <overnight>Cruising aboard Le Levant</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="5">
  <title>Monte-Carlo, Monaco </title>
  <description>Upon Le Levant&apos;s arrival in glittering, world-famous Monte-Carlo, discover the jet-setting capital of the tiny Principality of Monaco on a sightseeing tour that includes “the Rock,” - the city&apos;s Old Town - and the Cathedral, the final resting place of Monaco&apos;s late royal couple, Prince Rainier and Princess Grace.</description>
  <overnight>Cruising aboard Le Levant</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="6">
  <title>Cruise to Barcelona / Day at Sea</title>
  <description>As Le Levant traverses the western Mediterranean en route to Barcelona on the northeast coast of Spain, get to know your yacht during a full day at sea - along with the Captain and crew.  Unlike aboard larger vessels, cruising aboard Le Levant is like sailing with friends...  and you&apos;re always welcome to visit the bridge!</description>
  <overnight>Cruising aboard Le Levant</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="7">
  <title>Savor the Day in Barcelona</title>
  <description>Dock in the Catalonian city of Barcelona on Spain&apos;s Mediterranean coast today.  Sightseeing includes the Barri Gòtic, Las Ramblas and Gaudí&apos;s unfinished La Sagrada Familia, followed by time to explore as you wish.  Tauck includes admission to the Picasso Museum and private shuttle bus transfers between the ship and the city for Tauck guests only.  Enjoy a special tapas dinner tonight!</description>
  <overnight>Cruising aboard Le Levant</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="8">
  <title>Enjoy the Pleasures of Majorca</title>
  <description>Call on Majorca today.  A walking tour of Palma de Majorca includes a visit to the cathedral and lunch.  Continue to 14th-century Valldemossa on the north coast.</description>
  <overnight>Cruising aboard Le Levant</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="9">
  <title>Sail to Tunisia / Day at Sea</title>
  <description>Spend a relaxing day at sea as your ship heads south to Tunisia on the North African coast.</description>
  <overnight>Cruising aboard Le Levant</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="10">
  <title>Explore Tunisia &amp; Ancient Carthage</title>
  <description>Inspiring discoveries in Tunisia include the Roman mosaics on a visit to the Bardo Museum.  Take a walking tour of Mdina, and explore the ruins of Carthage before reboarding Le Levant and charting a course for Sicily.</description>
  <overnight>Cruising aboard Le Levant</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="11">
  <title>A Taste of Palermo</title>
  <description>Dock in Sicily at the historic port of Palermo, noted for its colorful history and culinary specialties.  See Porto Nuovo, Palazzo dei Normani, 16th-century Fontana Pretoria, and Teatro Massimo.  Sample regional cuisine at a local restaurant in Palermo and enjoy time at leisure.</description>
  <overnight>Cruising aboard Le Levant</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="12">
  <title>Discover Naples / Ancient Pompeii</title>
  <description>Go ashore at Naples for a guided tour of the antiquities of ancient Pompeii, frozen in time by volcanic ash.  After lunch, join us on a guided visit to the Museo Archeologico Nazionale in Naples.  The rest of the day is free.</description>
  <overnight>Cruising aboard Le Levant</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="13">
  <title>Disembark Ship / Journey Home</title>
  <description>Return to Civitavecchia; disembark Le Levant this morning for an included transfer to the Rome airport. Tour ends: 9:30 AM at Rome’s Leonardo da Vinci Airport in Fiumicino. Allow 21/2 hours for flight check-in.</description>
  <overnight></overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast</meals>
</itineraryDay>
  </itineraryDetails>
  <highlights>
		
10-Night Cruise on ms Noordam ~ Monte-Carlo ~ Barcelona ~ Tunisia ~ Rome
</highlights>
  <tauckValues>
    <value order="1">All gratuities to Tauck Director(s) and cruise ship staff</value><value order="2">TAUCK EXCLUSIVE! After-hours guided visit to the Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel to avoid crowds</value><value order="3">Private Tauck Shore Excursions  $960 Value!</value><value order="5">Guided sightseeing in Monte-Carlo, Rome, Vatican City, Barcelona, Palma de Majorca, Tunis, Pompeii</value><value order="6">Cocktail hour, all-day soft drinks, wine with dinner aboard ship</value><value order="7">Most meals (12 breakfasts, 10 lunches, 11 dinners), with meals ashore to sample local cuisine</value><value order="8">Service charges, applicable fuel surcharges, taxes, porterage and airport transfers</value>
  </tauckValues>  
  <departureDates>
    <date>
    <day>12</day>
    <month>6</month>
    <year>2010</year>
    <singlesPrice>10410</singlesPrice>
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  <occupancy>1</occupancy>
  <description>La Perouse Deck</description>
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    <year>2010</year>
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  <suppliment>1125</suppliment>
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</cabin>
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  <categoryCode>HM 20102</categoryCode>
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  <description>Champlain Deck</description>
  <suppliment>750</suppliment>
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</cabin>
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  <occupancy>3</occupancy>
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  <suppliment>750</suppliment>
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</cabin>
<cabin>
  <categoryCode>HM 20103</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>1</occupancy>
  <description>La Perouse Deck</description>
  <suppliment>1725</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>12135</totalPrice>
</cabin>
<cabin>
  <categoryCode>HM 20103</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>2</occupancy>
  <description>La Perouse Deck</description>
  <suppliment>1150</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>9040</totalPrice>
</cabin>
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  <categoryCode>HM 20104</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>1</occupancy>
  <description>Bougainville Deck</description>
  <suppliment>2250</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>12660</totalPrice>
</cabin>
<cabin>
  <categoryCode>HM 20104</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>2</occupancy>
  <description>Bougainville Deck</description>
  <suppliment>1500</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>9390</totalPrice>
</cabin></cabins>
  </date>

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  <sourceId>IA2010</sourceId>
  <title>A Portrait of India</title>
  <summary>
    <![CDATA[Tauck&apos;s ultimate India tour takes you from the lavish palaces and inspiring antiquities in the north to the river and canal-laced nature sanctuary in the south; from accommodations at some of the world&apos;s most award-winning palace hotels to home visits and special cultural connections, you&apos;ll explore India&apos;s amazing diversity

Looking for a shorter vacation experience in India?
Spotlight on India features the first 12 days of A Portrait of India, and includes such highlights of northern India as Delhi, Agra, Varanasi, Jaipur and Udaipur. 2010 Details.
]]>
  </summary>
  <description>
    <![CDATA[You will be absolutely amazed by all that is included on A Portrait of India, Tauck&apos;s most comprehensive India tour that gives you a complete look this complex country from north to south – Tauck Value for 2010 is unbeatable in both additional inclusions and price! Live like a maharajah on travels from northern India to its southern tip, while taking in cultural treasures and staying in some of the world&apos;s top-rated hotels. Two-night stays at the award-winning The Oberoi Amarvilas, Agra, include views of the spectacular Taj Mahal – and in Udaipur, you&apos;ll long remember the magnificent The Oberoi Udaivilas, a palace-style hotel overlooking a serene lake. Tauck&apos;s popular India tour is applauded by guests for its unique sightseeing experiences and many inclusions. Travel by traditional trishaw several times, including a memorable ride in Old Delhi through back streets and bazaars; view the amazing temples of Khajuraho; and cruise by houseboat in southern India through Kerala’s beautiful canals. Some of the most moving experiences include a special private dinner and boat ride in Varanasi to witness spiritual ceremonies along the River Ganges; an exclusive insider visit to a chef&apos;s private home in the southern region of Kerala – with a cooking demonstration and a taste of local cuisine and hospitality; a special Maharajah evening with dinner and entertainment; a sari or turban demonstration; housboat and river cruises, a martial arts demonstration, a dance performance... and so much more. With special insights provided by Tauck&apos;s local experts, Tauck&apos;s India tour is a must for any world traveler!

Looking for a shorter vacation experience in India?
Spotlight on India features the first 12 days of A Portrait of India, and includes such highlights of northern India as Delhi, Agra, Varanasi, Jaipur and Udaipur.  2010 Details.
]]>
  </description>
  <link>http://www.tauck.com/tours/asia-travel/india-tour-ia-2010</link>
  <durationDays>18</durationDays>
  <durationDetails>18 days and 17 nights.</durationDetails>
  <tripType>ESCORTED_TOUR</tripType>
  <brand>TWD</brand>
  <subbrand>Exotics</subbrand>
  <gradeRating>ALL_AGES</gradeRating>
  <comfortRating>COMFORTABLE_MIXED</comfortRating>
  <startingLocation>New Delhi, India</startingLocation>
  <prices>
    <price currency="USD">7340</price>
    <priceDetails><![CDATA[All prices are per person in U.S. dollars. ]]></priceDetails>
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  <itinerary>
    <![CDATA[Flying to India 
Flying time to Delhi averages about 18 hours from gateway cities in the U.S., and may include a stopover in Europe; most international flights arrive between 11:00 PM and 3:00 AM local time, 101/2 hours ahead of U.S. Eastern Standard Time. To ease the effects of jet lag, please consider traveling to India a day early, rather than arriving late at night on Day 1. Tauck can book your international flights for travel originating in the U.S., including arranging a pre-stay at The Oberoi, New Delhi, giving you time to rest and relax before sightseeing starts on Day 2. Ask for details upon booking.

1. Arrive New Delhi – The Oberoi
Tour begins: The Oberoi, New Delhi. A transfer is included from Indira Gandhi Int’l Airport to The Oberoi, New Delhi. Unless you have arranged for a pre-stay, you will most likely arrive at the hotel well after midnight local time.

2. New Delhi / Gandhi Smriti Museum
India’s capital is yours to explore with an insider guide; view the Secretariat buildings, Parliament House, the Presidential Palace and the India Gate; see the five-storied Qutb Minar Victory Tower and visit Humayun’s Tomb and the Gandhi Smriti Museum. Join us for a welcome dinner. Meals BLD

3. Exploring Old Delhi
Travel by trishaw through Old Delhi. Visit Red Fort and the Jama Masjid; see Rajghat, a memorial to Mahatma Gandhi. Dine à la carte at one of The Oberoi’s restaurants. Meals BD

4. Fly to Varanasi / Ceremonial Rituals
Fly to the spiritual capital of Varanasi on the Ganges; tour Sarnath, site of Buddha’s first sermon. A trishaw takes you to a special private dinner and a boat ride to witness worshippers “putting the river to sleep.” Meals BLD

5. Ganges River Cruise / Khajuraho
Rise early and cruise the Ganges before flying to Khajuraho – a UNESCO World Heritage Site showcasing many elaborately sculpted Chandella temples – for an overnight stay. Meals BLD

6. Village Visit / Orchha / Train to Agra 
Walk through a village en route to visit Orchha’s ruined 16th-century palaces and temples, now inhabited by chattering parakeets and langurs. Journey by rail to Agra. Meals BLD

7. Wondrous Taj Mahal / Agra Fort
The Taj Mahal needs no introduction; explore it early on your own or later on a guided visit. Tour Agra Fort; perhaps take an optional excursion to Fatehpur Sikri. Meals BLD

8. Museums and More in Jaipur
Continue on to Jaipur for two nights at The Oberoi Rajvilas, Jaipur. Sightseeing includes the City Palace Museum and the Jantar Mantar Observatory. Tonight, celebrate India’s culture and cuisine with a special Maharajah evening. Meals BLD

9. The Gems of Jaipur
The massive gateways, pillared pavilions and palaces nestled within Jaipur’s imposing Amber Fort pay lasting tribute to the many kingdoms it served over the centuries. Tour the domed Amber Palace within the complex, with its glittering mirrored interiors; spend the afternoon at leisure. Meals BL

10. Fly to Udaipur / Lake Pichola Cruise
Fly to Udaipur for a two-night stay at The Oberoi Udaivilas,  Udaipur, Travel + Leisure’s “Number 1 Hotel in the World” in 2007; enjoy a cruise on Lake Pichola. Meals BLD

11. Discover Udaipur’s Temples &amp; Palaces
Explore Saheliyon Ki Bari, Jagdish Mandir, and City Palace. Learn the art of dressing in a sari or a turban. Meals BLD

12. Fly to Cochin / Tropical Kerala
Your flight to Cochin in enchanting Kerala precedes a cruise along inland waterways and on the Arabian Sea. The famous Kathakali Dancers perform for you tonight. Meals BLD

13. 15th-Century Kochi / Cooking Demo
Attend a lecture on Kerala’s unique history; explore Kochi (Cochin), including Fort Cochin. Go inside a Kerala chef’s home for a cooking demonstration and dinner. Meals BLD

14. Kumarakom Lake Resort at Leisure
Drive through coastal Kerala to your lakefront resort on the island of Kumarakom. An evening of cultural entertainment features traditional Mohiniattam dancers. Meals BLD

15. Cruise Aboard Kerala Houseboats 
Board a traditional houseboat for a luncheon cruise through Kerala’s canals; a martial arts demonstration showcases the ancient traditions of Kalaripayattu this evening. Meals BLD

16. Fly to Mumbai (Bombay)
Fly to Mumbai (Bombay); upon arrival, the remainder of the day is free to spend as you please. Meals BLD

17. Mumbai Sights / Elephanta Island 
Visit the Gateway of India and cruise to Elephanta Island. Join us for a farewell cocktail reception tonight. Meals BL

18. Journey Home
Tour ends: Mumbai (Bombay). Fly home anytime. A transfer is included to Sahar International Airport. Most international flights depart between 2:00 – 3:00 AM.

]]>
  </itinerary>
  <itineraryDetails>
    <itineraryDay day="1">
  <title>Arrive New Delhi - The Oberoi</title>
  <description>Tour begins: The Oberoi, New Delhi. A transfer is included from Indira Gandhi Int’l Airport to The Oberoi, New Delhi. Unless you have arranged for a pre-stay, you will most likely arrive at the hotel well after midnight local time.</description>
  <overnight>The Oberoi, New Delhi</overnight>
  <meals></meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="2">
  <title>New Delhi / Gandhi Smriti Museum</title>
  <description>India’s capital is yours to explore with an insider guide; view the Secretariat buildings, Parliament House, the Presidential Palace and the India Gate; see the five-storied Qutb Minar Victory Tower and visit Humayun’s Tomb and the Gandhi Smriti Museum. Join us for a welcome dinner.</description>
  <overnight>The Oberoi, New Delhi</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="3">
  <title>Exploring Old Delhi</title>
  <description>Travel by trishaw through Old Delhi. Visit Red Fort and the Jama Masjid; see Rajghat, a memorial to Mahatma Gandhi. Dine à la carte at one of The Oberoi’s restaurants.</description>
  <overnight>The Oberoi, New Delhi</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="4">
  <title>Fly to Varanasi / Ceremonial Rituals</title>
  <description>Fly to the spiritual capital of Varanasi on the Ganges; tour Sarnath, site of Buddha’s first sermon. A trishaw takes you to a special private dinner and a boat ride to witness worshippers “putting the river to sleep.”</description>
  <overnight>Radisson Hotel Varanasi. Varanasi</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="5">
  <title>Ganges River Cruise / Khajuraho</title>
  <description>Rise early and cruise the Ganges before flying to Khajuraho – a UNESCO World Heritage Site showcasing many elaborately sculpted Chandella temples – for an overnight stay.</description>
  <overnight>The Grand Temple View, Khajuraho</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="6">
  <title>Village Visit / Orchha / Train to Agra</title>
  <description>Walk through a village en route to visit Orchha’s ruined 16th-century palaces and temples, now inhabited by chattering parakeets and langurs. Journey by rail to Agra.</description>
  <overnight>The Oberoi Amarvilas, Agra</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="7">
  <title>Wondrous Taj Mahal / Agra Fort</title>
  <description>The Taj Mahal needs no introduction; explore it early on your own or later on a guided visit. Tour Agra Fort; perhaps take an optional excursion to Fatehpur Sikri.</description>
  <overnight>The Oberoi Amarvilas, Agra</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="8">
  <title>Museums and More in Jaipur</title>
  <description>Continue on to Jaipur for two nights at The Oberoi Rajvilas, Jaipur. Sightseeing includes the City Palace Museum and the Jantar Mantar Observatory. Tonight, celebrate India’s culture and cuisine with a special Maharajah evening.</description>
  <overnight>The Oberoi Rajvilas, Jaipur</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="9">
  <title>The Gems of Jaipur</title>
  <description>The massive gateways, pillared pavilions and palaces nestled within Jaipur’s imposing Amber Fort pay lasting tribute to the many kingdoms it served over the centuries. Tour the domed Amber Palace within the complex, with its glittering mirrored interiors; spend the afternoon at leisure.</description>
  <overnight>The Oberoi Rajvilas, Jaipur</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="10">
  <title>Fly to Udaipur / Lake Pichola Cruise</title>
  <description>Fly to Udaipur for a two-night stay at The Oberoi Udaivilas,&amp;nbsp; Udaipur, Travel + Leisure’s “Number 1 Hotel in the World” in 2007; enjoy a cruise on Lake Pichola.</description>
  <overnight>The Oberoi Udaivilas, Udaipur</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="11">
  <title>Discover Udaipur&apos;s Temples &amp; Palaces</title>
  <description>Explore Saheliyon Ki Bari, Jagdish Mandir, and City Palace. Learn the art of dressing in a sari or a turban.</description>
  <overnight>The Oberoi Udaivilas, Udaipur</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="12">
  <title>Fly to Cochin / Tropical Kerala</title>
  <description>Your flight to Cochin in enchanting Kerala precedes a cruise along inland waterways and on the Arabian Sea. The famous Kathakali Dancers perform for you tonight.</description>
  <overnight>Taj Malabar, Cochin</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="13">
  <title>15th-Century Kochi / Cooking Demo</title>
  <description>Attend a lecture on Kerala’s unique history; explore Kochi (Cochin), including Fort Cochin. Go inside a Kerala chef’s home for a cooking demonstration and dinner.</description>
  <overnight>Taj Malabar, Cochin</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="14">
  <title>Kumarakom Lake Resort at Leisure</title>
  <description>Drive through coastal Kerala to your lakefront resort on the island of Kumarakom. An evening of cultural entertainment features traditional Mohiniattam dancers.</description>
  <overnight>Kumarakom Lake Resort, Kerala</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="15">
  <title>Cruise Aboard Kerala Houseboats</title>
  <description>Board a traditional houseboat for a luncheon cruise through Kerala’s canals; a martial arts demonstration showcases the ancient traditions of Kalaripayattu this evening.</description>
  <overnight>Kumarakom Lake Resort, Kerala</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="16">
  <title>Fly to Mumbai (Bombay)</title>
  <description>Fly to Mumbai (Bombay); upon arrival, the remainder of the day is free to spend as you please.</description>
  <overnight>The Oberoi, Mumbai (departures January &amp; February will stay at Trident Nariman Point, Mumbai)</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="17">
  <title>Mumbai Sights / Elephanta Island</title>
  <description>Visit the Gateway of India and cruise to Elephanta Island. Join us for a farewell cocktail reception tonight.</description>
  <overnight>The Oberoi, Mumbai (departures January &amp; February will stay at Trident Nariman Point, Mumbai)</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="18">
  <title>Journey Home</title>
  <description>Tour ends: Mumbai (Bombay). Fly home anytime. A transfer is included to Sahar International Airport. Most international flights depart between 2:00 – 3:00 AM.</description>
  <overnight></overnight>
  <meals></meals>
</itineraryDay>
  </itineraryDetails>
  <highlights>
		
				Delhi ~ Agra ~ Varanasi ~ Jaipur ~ Udaipur ~ Kerala ~ Mumbai (Bombay) 
</highlights>
  <tauckValues>
    <value order="1">Hotels consistently on “world’s best” lists including The Oberoi Udaivilas, The Oberoi Rajvilas and The Oberoi Amarvilas</value><value order="2">Special private dinner and boat ride in Varanasi witnessing spiritual traditions on the River Ganges</value><value order="3">Exclusive insider visit to a chefs private home in Kerala, where a cooking demonstration provides an authentic taste of local cuisine and hospitality</value><value order="4">Houseboat and river cruises, martial arts demo and Kathakali dance performance in southern India</value><value order="5">Special Maharajah evening in Jaipur with dinner and entertainment, and sari or turban demo in Udaipur</value><value order="6">Travel by trishaw in the sacred city of Varanasi</value><value order="7">Overnight in Khajuraho, UNESCO World Heritage Site</value><value order="8">Taj Mahal views from your room at The Oberoi Amarvilas</value><value order="9">45 meals (16 breakfasts, 15 lunches, 14 dinners) with wait staff gratuities</value><value order="10">Gratuities to local guides, airport transfers, service charges, admission fees, taxes and porterage</value>
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    <month>9</month>
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</tour><tour>
  <sourceId>IB2010</sourceId>
  <title>Spain and Portugal</title>
  <summary>
    <![CDATA[Highlights of Tauck&apos;s enriching Spain and Portugal tour include Lisbon and Sintra in Portugal, and Seville, Gibraltar, Ronda, Granada, Toledo and Madrid in Spain; dine at a sherry bodega and a traditional Andalucían inn, and visit a renowned school of equestrian art.
]]>
  </summary>
  <description>
    <![CDATA[A comprehensive Spain and Portugal tour reveals the scenic and cultural contrasts of the fascinating countries sharing the Iberian Peninsula. Explore Portugal&apos;s capital of Lisbon and the UNESCO World Heritage Sites of Sintra and Evora, and savor the best of Spain in Seville, Toledo, Granada, Córdoba, Madrid and more. Special Tauck experiences include lunch at a sherry bodega, a taste of authentic Andalucían cuisine during lunch at a traditional inn, and a visit to the Royal Andalucían School of Equestrian Art. Tauck&apos;s Spain and Portugal tour offers you a delightful and culturally enriching vacation experience!
]]>
  </description>
  <link>http://www.tauck.com/tours/europe-tours/spain-tours/portugal-tour-ib-2010</link>
  <durationDays>14</durationDays>
  <durationDetails>14 days and 13 nights.</durationDetails>
  <tripType>ESCORTED_TOUR</tripType>
  <brand>TWD</brand>
  <subbrand>Europe</subbrand>
  <gradeRating>ALL_AGES</gradeRating>
  <comfortRating>COMFORTABLE_MIXED</comfortRating>
  <startingLocation>Lisbon, Portugal</startingLocation>
  <prices>
    <price currency="USD">4290</price>
    <priceDetails><![CDATA[All prices are per person in U.S. dollars. ]]></priceDetails>
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1. Arrive
Lisbon 
Tour
begins: 2:00 PM, Four Seasons Hotel Ritz Lisbon. A transfer is included from Lisboa
Airport to Four Seasons Hotel Ritz Lisbon. A guided sightseeing tour includes a
visit to Mosteiro dos Jerónimos; see the Discoveries Monument and the Tower of
Belém. Join us for a welcome cocktail reception and dinner this evening. Meals
D
 
2. Sintra
/ Cascais 
Journey to
Sintra, designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its historic cultural
landscapes, and tour the 14th-century Royal Palace. Travel through the seaside
village of Cascais, a fishing village where brightly colored boats speckle the
bay, and the resort town of Estoril on the Portuguese Riviera. Return to Lisbon
for time at leisure. Meals B
 
3.
Explore Medieval Evora
Cross the
Tagus River over Europe’s longest suspension bridge, the Vasco da Gama Bridge,
as you travel to Evora, a UNESCO World Heritage Site – a guided tour takes you
through winding medieval streets flanked by 17th-century walls, revealing Roman
ruins, Moorish arcades, and more than 20 churches and monasteries. Your
accommodations tonight are in a former 15th-century convent, today elegantly
renovated into a heritage hotel and spa. Meals BLD
 
4.
Andalucía / Seville
It’s off to
Andalucía, Spain’s southern province of whitewashed villages, seaside resorts,
gypsies, flamenco dancing and olive groves. A guided visit to Merida takes in
its Roman ruins, among the best preserved in Europe. Arrive in the provincial
capital of Seville for a two-night stay at one of Europe’s most luxurious
hotels, named for a king of Spain. Attend a private flamenco performance tonight. Meals BLD
 
5.
Discover Historic Seville
The sights
of Seville – southern Spain’s cultural capital – are explored on an orientation
tour with a local guide. A carriage ride transports you to Seville’s beautiful
Gothic Cathedral, with its mighty Giralda bell tower (converted from the
minaret of a mosque) and the tomb of Christopher Columbus. Take a walking tour
of Barrio de Santa Cruz, the fascinating Jewish Quarter; the rest of the day is
free. Meals B
 
6. Jerez
de la Frontera 
Jerez de la
Frontera is known for its sweet wines, sherry, fine horses and flamenco dancers. Visit the palatial Real
Escuela Andaluza de Arte Equestre (Royal Andalucían School of Equestrian Art),
where you may watch a training session with the famed Andalucían horses, and
the Carriage Museum. Your visit is followed by lunch at a sherry bodega and a
trip to Gibraltar and The Apes’ Den to see the famed Barbary Macaques; arrive
in coastal Marbella for two nights at a beachfront hotel. Meals BLD
 
7. Day at
Leisure in Marbella
A morning
orientation walk through Marbella, on the famous Costa del Sol, introduces you
to its fascinating Old Town (Casco Antigua) – surrounded by shops, cafés and
squares, and dominated by 15th-century Iglesia de la Encarnación. The rest of
the day is spent at leisure in this popular resort, a favorite of royalty and
celebrities year-round. Meals B
 
8. Ronda
/ Granada
Depart
seaside Marbella and climb into the mountains – the views are absolutely
breathtaking. Visit cliff-top Ronda, where a guided walking tour takes in the
Moorish remains; see the Plaza de Toros, one of Spain’s oldest bullrings.
Today’s final destination is the ancient city of Granada, the capital of a Moorish
kingdom for about 250 years. Your hotel is just steps away from the famous
Alhambra Palace. Meals BLD
 
9. The
Alhambra / Travel to Córdoba
Built as a
“paradise on earth” by 13th-century caliphs, the Palace of the Alhambra ranks
among the world’s finest examples of Moorish architecture. A guided tour takes
in the Royal Palace and the terraced quarters of the Generalife. Continue
through striking landscapes to Córdoba. Meals BL
 
10.
Córdoba / Sierra Morena / Parador 
Take a
guided walking tour of Córdoba through the narrow cobblestone streets of the
old Jewish Quarter. Visit the legendary Mezquita (Spanish for “mosque”), whose
history dates back more than 1,200 years; much of the original mosque’s
dazzling architecture, including great candy-striped columns, was retained when
the building was converted to a cathedral in the 16th century. This afternoon,
travel through the Sierra Morena mountains to Almagro in southern La Mancha;
stay overnight in the historic Parador de Almagro, a former Franciscan monastery.
Meals BLD
 
11.
Toledo / Madrid
Drive
through Consuegra, where Don Quixote de la Mancha jousted with windmills, en route to
Toledo. A walking tour takes you to the Church of Santo Tomé to see one of El
Greco’s finest paintings, The Burial of the Count of Orgaz, and to a synagogue in the historic
Jewish Quarter. Arrive in Madrid; your historic luxury hotel is in the heart of
the city, where you can easily walk to Plaza Santa Anna to visit the tapas bars
made famous by Ernest Hemingway. Meals B
 
12. Experience
Madrid
Amazing
Madrid grew from a 9th-century Arab fortress to the cosmopolitan capital of
Spain. A tour with your local guide includes a visit to the Royal Palace, along
with views of Neptuno and Cibeles fountains, Gran Via, and Paseo de la Castellana.
Your afternoon is free to spend as you choose. Meals B
 
13. Museo
del Prado / Madrid As You Please
Follow a
guided visit to Museo del Prado, one of the world’s greatest art galleries,
with time exploring Madrid as you wish. Join us this evening for a farewell
reception and dinner at your hotel, a Belle Époque landmark. Meals BD
 
14.
Journey Home
Tour ends: Madrid. Fly home anytime. A transfer from The
Westin Palace, Madrid to Madrid Barajas Airport is included; allow 2 1/2 hours
for flight check-in. Meals B
]]>
  </itinerary>
  <itineraryDetails>
    <itineraryDay day="1">
  <title>Arrive Lisbon</title>
  <description>our begins: 2:00 PM, Four Seasons Hotel Ritz Lisbon. A transfer is included from Lisboa Airport to Four Seasons Hotel Ritz Lisbon. A guided sightseeing tour includes a visit to Mosteiro dos Jerónimos; see the Discoveries Monument and the Tower of Belém. Join us for a welcome cocktail reception and dinner this evening.</description>
  <overnight>Four Seasons Hotel Ritz Lisbon, Portugal</overnight>
  <meals>Dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="2">
  <title>Sintra / Cascais</title>
  <description>Journey to Sintra, designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its historic cultural landscapes, and tour the 14th-century Royal Palace. Travel through the seaside village of Cascais, a fishing village where brightly colored boats speckle the bay, and the resort town of Estoril on the Portuguese Riviera. Return to Lisbon for time at leisure.</description>
  <overnight>Four Seasons Hotel Ritz Lisbon, Portugal</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="3">
  <title>Explore Medieval Evora</title>
  <description>Cross the Tagus River over Europe’s longest suspension bridge, the Vasco da Gama Bridge, as you travel to Evora, a UNESCO World Heritage Site – a guided tour takes you through winding medieval streets flanked by 17th-century walls, revealing Roman ruins, Moorish arcades, and more than 20 churches and monasteries. Your accommodations tonight are in a former 15th-century convent, today elegantly renovated into a heritage hotel and spa.</description>
  <overnight>Convento do Espinheiro, Evora, Portugal</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="4">
  <title>Andalucia / Seville</title>
  <description>It’s off to Andalucía, Spain’s southern province of whitewashed villages, seaside resorts, gypsies, flamenco dancing and olive groves. A guided visit to Merida takes in its Roman ruins, among the best preserved in Europe. Arrive in the provincial capital of Seville for a two-night stay at one of Europe’s most luxurious hotels, named for a king of Spain. Attend a private flamenco performance tonight.</description>
  <overnight>Hotel Alfonso XIII, Seville, Spain</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="5">
  <title>Discover Historic Seville</title>
  <description>The sights of Seville – southern Spain’s cultural capital – are explored on an orientation tour with a local guide. A carriage ride transports you to Seville’s beautiful Gothic Cathedral, with its mighty Giralda bell tower (converted from the minaret of a mosque) and the tomb of Christopher Columbus. Take a walking tour of Barrio de Santa Cruz, the fascinating Jewish Quarter; the rest of the day is free.</description>
  <overnight>Hotel Alfonso XIII, Seville, Spain</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="6">
  <title>Jerez de la Frontera</title>
  <description>Jerez de la Frontera is known for its sweet wines, sherry, fine horses and flamenco dancers. Visit the palatial Real Escuela Andaluza de Arte Equestre (Royal Andalucían School of Equestrian Art), where you may watch a training session with the famed Andalucían horses, and the Carriage Museum. Your visit is followed by lunch at a sherry bodega and a trip to Gibraltar and The Apes’ Den to see the famed Barbary Macaques; arrive in coastal Marbella for two nights at a beachfront hotel.</description>
  <overnight>Hotel Fuerte Miramar-SPA, Marbella, Spain</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="7">
  <title>Day at Leisure in Marbella</title>
  <description>A morning orientation walk through Marbella, on the famous Costa del Sol, introduces you to its fascinating Old Town (Casco Antigua) – surrounded by shops, cafés and squares, and dominated by 15th-century Iglesia de la Encarnación. The rest of the day is spent at leisure in this popular resort, a favorite of royalty and celebrities year-round.</description>
  <overnight>Hotel Fuerte Miramar-SPA, Marbella, Spain</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="8">
  <title>Ronda / Granada</title>
  <description>Depart seaside Marbella and climb into the mountains – the views are absolutely breathtaking. Visit cliff-top Ronda, where a guided walking tour takes in the Moorish remains; see the Plaza de Toros, one of Spain’s oldest bullrings. Today’s final destination is the ancient city of Granada, the capital of a Moorish kingdom for about 250 years. Your hotel is just steps away from the famous Alhambra Palace.</description>
  <overnight>Hotel Alhambra Palace, Granada, Spain</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="9">
  <title>The Alhambra / Travel to Córdoba</title>
  <description>Built as a “paradise on earth” by 13th-century caliphs, the Palace of the Alhambra ranks among the world’s finest examples of Moorish architecture. A guided tour takes in the Royal Palace and the terraced quarters of the Generalife. Continue through striking landscapes to Córdoba.</description>
  <overnight>AC Córdoba Palacio, Córdoba, Spain</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="10">
  <title>Córdoba / Sierra Morena / Parador</title>
  <description>Take a guided walking tour of Córdoba through the narrow cobblestone streets of the old Jewish Quarter. Visit the legendary Mezquita (Spanish for “mosque”), whose history dates back more than 1,200 years; much of the original mosque’s dazzling architecture, including great candy-striped columns, was retained when the building was converted to a cathedral in the 16th century. This afternoon, travel through the Sierra Morena mountains to Almagro in southern La Mancha; stay overnight in the historic Parador de Almagro, a former Franciscan monastery.</description>
  <overnight>Parador de Almagro, Spain</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="11">
  <title>Toledo / Madrid</title>
  <description>Drive through Consuegra, where Don Quixote de la Mancha jousted with windmills, en route to Toledo. A walking tour takes you to the Church of Santo Tomé to see one of El Greco’s finest paintings, The Burial of the Count of Orgaz, and to a synagogue in the historic Jewish Quarter. Arrive in Madrid; your historic luxury hotel is in the heart of the city, where you can easily walk to Plaza Santa Anna to visit the tapas bars made famous by Ernest Hemingway.</description>
  <overnight>The Westin Palace, Madrid, Spain</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="12">
  <title>Experience Madrid</title>
  <description>Amazing Madrid grew from a 9th-century Arab fortress to the cosmopolitan capital of Spain. A tour with your local guide includes a visit to the Royal Palace, along with views of Neptuno and Cibeles fountains, Gran Via, and Paseo de la Castellana. Your afternoon is free to spend as you choose.</description>
  <overnight>The Westin Palace, Madrid, Spain</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="13">
  <title>Museo del Prado / Madrid As You Please</title>
  <description>Follow a guided visit to Museo del Prado, one of the world’s greatest art galleries, with time exploring Madrid as you wish. Join us this evening for a farewell reception and dinner at your hotel, a Belle Époque landmark.</description>
  <overnight>The Westin Palace, Madrid, Spain</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="14">
  <title>Journey Home</title>
  <description>Tour ends: Madrid. Fly home anytime. A transfer from The Westin Palace, Madrid to Madrid Barajas Airport is included; allow 2 1/2 hours for flight check-in.</description>
  <overnight></overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast</meals>
</itineraryDay>
  </itineraryDetails>
  <highlights>		
Lisbon ~ Sintra ~ Andalucía ~ Seville ~ Gibraltar ~ Marbella ~ Ronda ~ Granada ~ Córdoba ~ Madrid 
</highlights>
  <tauckValues>
    <value order="1">TAUCK&apos;S YELLOW ROADS! Enjoy breathtaking vistas as you climb from seaside Marbella to cliff-top Ronda, and into the Sierra Nevada mountains to Granada</value><value order="2">An authentic taste of Andalucan cuisine at a traditional inn, sampling regional specialties during a family-style lunch</value><value order="3">A visit to the Royal Andalucan School of Equestrian Art, where youll see Andalucan horses  known for their impeccable breeding and pure bloodlines  being trained in dressage and coach driving</value><value order="4">Lunch at a sherry bodega  the strong sun in the south of Spain produces sherry, very sweet wine; lunch at the sherry bodega provides an opportunity to learn the process</value><value order="5">Airport transfers upon arrival and departure</value><value order="6">26 meals (13 breakfasts, 6 lunches &amp; 7 dinners), service charges, gratuities to local guides, admission fees, taxes and porterage</value>
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</tour><tour>
  <sourceId>IC2010</sourceId>
  <title>Vietnam, Cambodia &amp; Thailand</title>
  <summary>
    <![CDATA[		

This Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam tour spans the Khmer Kindgom to present day, discovers ancient Angkor Wat and Hué – plus cosmopolitan Hanoi and Bangkok – and features special experiences like an elephant trek, visits to hill tribe villages, and boat cruises through Bangkok&apos;s klongs and along Hué&apos;s Perfume River.
]]>
  </summary>
  <description>
    <![CDATA[Tauck’s 16-day Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam tour encompasses the best of Southeast Asia as you explore the legendary cities of Hanoi, Hué, Ho Chi Minh City and Bangkok. Discover golden Buddhas, ancient kingdoms, inspiring temples, and lush landscapes, and experience the cultures and traditions of this fascinating area of the world for yourself. From a water puppet performance to ornate pagodas and soaring temple spires, gilded palaces to bamboo stilt houses, everything about this journey is special. Ride an elephant into the jungle near Chang Mai and cruise on the klongs of Bangkok. In Vietnam tour poignant reminders of war like the Cu Chi Tunnels and notorious Hoa Lo Prison, and see the legacy of peace as you visit a kindergarten in Da Nang. Experience the grandeur and archaeological significance of UNESCO World Heritage Sites such as Angkor, Hoi An and Hué. On Tauck’s Vietnam, Cambodia &amp; Thailand journey, you’ll stay at the finest city hotels and word-class resorts.
]]>
  </description>
  <link>http://www.tauck.com/tours/asia-travel/vietnam-tour-ic-2010</link>
  <durationDays>16</durationDays>
  <durationDetails>16 days and 15 nights.</durationDetails>
  <tripType>ESCORTED_TOUR</tripType>
  <brand>TWD</brand>
  <subbrand>Exotics</subbrand>
  <gradeRating>ALL_AGES</gradeRating>
  <comfortRating>COMFORTABLE_MIXED</comfortRating>
  <startingLocation>Hanoi, Vietnam</startingLocation>
  <prices>
    <price currency="USD">4990</price>
    <priceDetails><![CDATA[All prices are per person in U.S. dollars. ]]></priceDetails>
  </prices>
  <images>
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    <image>http://tools.tauck.com/Files/ItineraryImages/altImages/IC2010_alt1.jpg</image>
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  <itinerary>
    <![CDATA[Flying to Vietnam 
Flying time to Hanoi averages about 151/2 hours from the U.S.; Hanoi time is 11 hours ahead of the United States’ Eastern Standard Time. To ease the effects of jet lag, please consider traveling to Hanoi a day early. Tauck can book your international flights for travel originating in the U.S., and arrange an extra night at Sofitel Metropole Hanoi the night before your journey begins. Ask for details upon booking.

1. Arrive Hanoi, Vietnam
Tour begins: Sofitel Metropole Hanoi at 6:00 PM. A transfer is included upon arrival at Noi Bai International Airport to Sofitel Metropole Hanoi. A celebrated Hanoi landmark since the turn of the last century, this elegant hotel is located right in the heart of the city. Join us tonight for a welcome cocktail reception and dinner at Le Beaulieu. Meals D

2. Cyclo Ride and Water Puppets
Welcome to Hanoi, capital of modern Vietnam and the political center of Vietnamese kingdoms from the 11th to the 18th centuries. Today’s exploration begins with a cyclo ride through Old Hanoi and includes a stop at the infamous Hoa Lo (“Hanoi Hilton”) prison. You’ll view Ho Chi Minh’s Mausoleum, the French colonial Presidential Palace that Ho refused to live in, the nearby teak “house on stilts” he chose instead, and the famous One-Pillar Pagoda. After a lunch of Vietnamese specialties, you may join us for optional visits to the 1,000-year-old Temple of Literature or the Museum of Ethnology, documenting Vietnam’s more than 50 distinct ethnic groups. Tonight, attend an enchanting water puppet performance, an art form dating back thousands of years, prior to dinner à la carte at the Press Club. Meals BLD

3. Hué, World Heritage Site
Fly this morning to one of Vietnam’s most beautiful cities, Hué, designated a World Heritage Site for its 19th-century imperial complexes. Set out by cyclo for city sightseeing including the Citadel – the great enclosure that housed the Capital City, Imperial City and the Forbidden Purple City – and Thien Mu Pagoda. Later, take a boat cruise along the Perfume River, which provides a picture-perfect setting for your riverfront hotel, La Residence Hotel &amp; Spa. Meals BLD

4. Da Nang / “China Beach”
Visit the tomb of 19th-century Vietnamese emperor Tu Duc in Hué before heading out along the South China Sea coast. Stop for a Vietnamese lunch in the seaside village of Lang Co, and continue through the mountains to your beachfront resort in Da Nang; your room overlooks the stretch of shore known to American G.I.’s as “China Beach.” Meals BLD

5. Kindergarten Visit / Cyclo in Hoi An 
Meet the children of a local kindergarten in Da Nang before traveling to Hoi An, a well-preserved example of a 15th – 19th century South China Sea trading port. Negotiate its picturesque, shop-lined streets by cyclo; see the unique Japanese Covered Bridge, and visit the 200-year-old “Phung Hung” house. Spend the afternoon as you please in Hoi An or back at the resort; have dinner at your leisure. Meals BD

6. Fly to Ho Chi Minh City
A morning flight brings you to Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam’s largest city, for a two-night stay; formerly Saigon, the city was once the capital of colonial French Indochina and later of South Vietnam. Our local expert takes you inside the former Presidential Palace, now called Reunification Hall. Sightseeing also includes the Saigon River, the gracious Post Office and Notre Dame Cathedral. Accompanied by a local guide, you have a choice of museum visits – the Museum of Vietnamese History or the War Remnants Museum. Meals BL

7. Cu Chi Tunnels 
At the battlefield memorial site of Ben Duoc northwest of Ho Chi Minh City, discover the fascinating three-story-deep, 120-mile network of underground passageways and rooms of the Cu Chi Tunnels with local guides. After lunch, the afternoon’s free to explore Ho Chi Minh City at your leisure. Taste Vietnam’s diverse cultural heritage tonight with dinner à la carte at La Camargue, serving French, Vietnamese and international cuisine in an elegant villa setting. Meals BLD

8. Fly to Siem Reap / Angkor Wat 
A morning flight takes you to Siem Reap, Cambodia, for a two-night stay amidst the colonial ambiance of the Raffles Grand Hotel d’Angkor, close to the archaeological site of Angkor. After lunch, you’ll visit the towering 12th-century Khmer temple complex of Angkor Wat. Undergoing continuous restoration, the Temples of Angkor occupy an area twice the size of Manhattan Island! Enjoy dinner à la carte at your choice of the hotel’s restaurants. Meals BLD

9. Angkor Thom / Lake Cruise
Vestiges of Cambodia’s ancient Khmer civilization abound at the root-covered Temple of Ta Prohm, the walled city of Angkor Thom, Elephant Terrace and Bayon Temple; a photographer offers tips for great pictures! If you wish, see the floating villages of Tonle Sap Lake on a boat cruise before returning to the hotel for dinner. Meals BLD

10. Fly to Chiang Mai via Bangkok
Fly to Bangkok this morning and then on to Chiang Mai, known as the “Rose of the North,” where you’ll spend three nights at the five-star Four Seasons Resort Chiang Mai. Arrive in the afternoon for some time to relax. This evening, you may choose to have a sumptuous room-service dinner served on your private, candlelit sala (pavilion) overlooking the resort’s beautiful gardens, terraced rice paddies and the mountains beyond – a dinner to remember! Meals BD

11. Elephants of the North
Thailand’s national animal, the elephant has always been an integral part of Chiang Mai culture. On today’s memorable excursion to an elephant camp, you’ll get to feed these gentle giants, watch them demonstrate skills – including painting a picture! – in a teak forest, and climb aboard one for a remarkable elephant trek* through the jungle, followed by a picnic lunch. The afternoon is free to relax in your idyllic Mae Rim Valley setting, or head off on your own to see local artisans at work creating celadon pottery. Meals BLD

12. Hill Tribe Villages / Doi Suthep 
An unforgettable experience awaits you among the hill tribe villages of Chiang Mai, where you’ll meet people of the Padong, Palong and Karen tribes; observe their unique folkways firsthand, and try on the traditional neck rings worn by members of the Karen tribe. A scenic drive into Doi Suthep National Park includes a visit to Wat Phrathat Doi Suthep, perched atop a 3,542-foot peak. Enjoy the afternoon at leisure and dinner à la carte tonight. Meals BD

13. Fly to Bangkok, Thailand’s Capital
Spend a morning at leisure prior to an afternoon flight to Bangkok for a two-night stay in deluxe Krungthep Wing rooms at the Shangri-La Hotel, Bangkok. A Chao Phraya River dinner cruise welcomes you to the Thai capital, a remarkable blend of ancient and modern. Meals BD

14. Grand Palace / Reclining Buddha
Depart the hotel via express boat for a morning of Bangkok sightseeing. Walk to Bangkok’s dazzling 18th-century Grand Palace, where the Thai kings and their courts resided until the turn of the 20th century; while there, view the opulent Emerald Buddha, one of Thailand’s most sacred sites. Visit Wat Po, Bangkok’s largest and oldest temple, home to the Reclining Buddha. After a traditional Thai lunch, return by motorboat to the hotel for a fascinating lesson on ch’i, the universal life force in eastern philosophy, at the hotel’s Chi Spa. Meals BL

15. Bangkok Klongs / Royal Barges
Board a boat for a cruise up the Chao Phraya River and through a network of canals called klongs, for a close-up look at local life along the river. Stop at Wat Arun, then continue on to the Royal Barge Museum to see spectacular barges like those that carried 17th-century Thai royalty. After touring the golden teak Vimanmek Palace, visit the city’s Seafood Market to choose fresh ingredients for your lunch, which market chefs will prepare for you. Tonight, mark the end of your remarkable journey through Southeast Asia with a farewell dinner. Meals BLD

16. Journey Home
Tour ends: Bangkok. A transfer is included from Shangri-La Hotel, Bangkok to Bangkok International Airport; allow 2 1/2 hours for flight check-in at the airport. Meals B

]]>
  </itinerary>
  <itineraryDetails>
    <itineraryDay day="1">
  <title>Arrive Hanoi, Vietnam</title>
  <description>Tour begins: Sofitel Metropole Hanoi at 6:00 PM.  A transfer is included upon arrival at Noi Bai International Airport to Sofitel Metropole Hanoi.  A celebrated Hanoi landmark since the turn of the last century, this elegant hotel is located right in the heart of the city.  Join us tonight for a welcome cocktail reception and dinner at Le Beaulieu.  Meals D</description>
  <overnight>Sofitel Metropole Hanoi, Vietnam</overnight>
  <meals>Dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="2">
  <title>Cyclo Ride and Water Puppets</title>
  <description>Welcome to Hanoi, capital of modern Vietnam and the political center of Vietnamese kingdoms from the 11th to the 18th centuries.  Today&apos;s exploration begins with a cyclo ride through Old Hanoi and includes a stop at the infamous Hoa Lo (“Hanoi Hilton”) prison.  You&apos;ll view Ho Chi Minh&apos;s Mausoleum, the French colonial Presidential Palace that Ho refused to live in, the nearby teak “house on stilts” he chose instead, and the famous One&amp;#45;Pillar Pagoda.  After a lunch of Vietnamese specialties, you may join us for optional visits to the 1,000&amp;#45;year&amp;#45;old Temple of Literature or the Museum of Ethnology, documenting Vietnam&apos;s more than 50 distinct ethnic groups.  Tonight, attend an enchanting water puppet performance, an art form dating back thousands of years, prior to dinner &amp;#224; la carte at the Press Club.  Meals BLD</description>
  <overnight> Sofitel Metropole Hanoi, Vietnam</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="3">
  <title>Hu&amp;#233;, World Heritage Site</title>
  <description>Fly this morning to one of Vietnam&apos;s most beautiful cities, Hu&amp;#233;, designated a World Heritage Site for its 19th&amp;#45;century imperial complexes.  Set out by cyclo for city sightseeing including the Citadel &amp;#45; the great enclosure that housed the Capital City, Imperial City and the Forbidden Purple City &amp;#45; and Thien Mu Pagoda.  Later, take a boat cruise along the Perfume River, which provides a picture&amp;#45;perfect setting for your riverfront hotel, La Residence Hotel &amp; Spa.  Meals BLD</description>
  <overnight>La Residence Hotel &amp; Spa, Hué, Vietnam</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="4">
  <title>Da Nang / “China Beach”</title>
  <description>Visit the tomb of 19th&amp;#45;century Vietnamese emperor Tu Duc in Hu&amp;#233; before heading out along the South China Sea coast.  Stop for a Vietnamese lunch in the seaside village of Lang Co, and continue through the mountains to your beachfront resort in Da Nang; your room overlooks the stretch of shore known to American G.I.&apos;s as “China Beach.” Meals BLD</description>
  <overnight>Furama Resort Da Nang, Vietnam</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="5">
  <title>Kindergarten Visit / Cyclo in Hoi An </title>
  <description>Meet the children of a local kindergarten in Da Nang before traveling to Hoi An, a well&amp;#45;preserved example of a 15th &amp;#45; 19th century South China Sea trading port.  Negotiate its picturesque, shop&amp;#45;lined streets by cyclo; see the unique Japanese Covered Bridge, and visit the 200&amp;#45;year&amp;#45;old “Phung Hung” house.  Spend the afternoon as you please in Hoi An or back at the resort; have dinner at your leisure.  Meals BD</description>
  <overnight>Furama Resort Da Nang, Vietnam</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="6">
  <title>Fly to Ho Chi Minh City</title>
  <description>A morning flight brings you to Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam&apos;s largest city, for a two&amp;#45;night stay; formerly Saigon, the city was once the capital of colonial French Indochina and later of South Vietnam.  Our local expert takes you inside the former Presidential Palace, now called Reunification Hall.  Sightseeing also includes the Saigon River, the gracious Post Office and Notre Dame Cathedral.  Accompanied by a local guide, you have a choice of museum visits &amp;#45; the Museum of Vietnamese History or the War Remnants Museum.  Meals BL</description>
  <overnight>Sheraton Saigon Hotel &amp; Towers, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="7">
  <title>Cu Chi Tunnels </title>
  <description>At the battlefield memorial site of Ben Duoc northwest of Ho Chi Minh City, discover the fascinating three&amp;#45;story&amp;#45;deep, 120&amp;#45;mile network of underground passageways and rooms of the Cu Chi Tunnels with local guides.  After lunch, the afternoon&apos;s free to explore Ho Chi Minh City at your leisure.  Taste Vietnam&apos;s diverse cultural heritage tonight with dinner &amp;#224; la carte at La Camargue, serving French, Vietnamese and international cuisine in an elegant villa setting.  Meals BLD</description>
  <overnight>Sheraton Saigon Hotel &amp; Towers, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="8">
  <title>Fly to Siem Reap / Angkor Wat </title>
  <description>A morning flight takes you to Siem Reap, Cambodia, for a two&amp;#45;night stay amidst the colonial ambiance of the Raffles Grand Hotel d&apos;Angkor, close to the archaeological site of Angkor.  After lunch, you&apos;ll visit the towering 12th&amp;#45;century Khmer temple complex of Angkor Wat.  Undergoing continuous restoration, the Temples of Angkor occupy an area twice the size of Manhattan Island! Enjoy dinner &amp;#224; la carte at your choice of the hotel&apos;s restaurants.  Meals BLD</description>
  <overnight>Raffles Grand Hotel d&apos;Angkor, Siem Reap, Cambodia</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="9">
  <title>Angkor Thom / Lake Cruise</title>
  <description>Vestiges of Cambodia&apos;s ancient Khmer civilization abound at the root&amp;#45;covered Temple of Ta Prohm, the walled city of Angkor Thom, Elephant Terrace and Bayon Temple; a photographer offers tips for great pictures! If you wish, see the floating villages of Tonle Sap Lake on a boat cruise before returning to the hotel for dinner.  Meals BLD</description>
  <overnight>Raffles Grand Hotel d&apos;Angkor, Siem Reap, Cambodia</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="10">
  <title>Fly to Chiang Mai via Bangkok</title>
  <description>Fly to Bangkok this morning and then on to Chiang Mai, known as the “Rose of the North,” where you&apos;ll spend three nights at the five&amp;#45;star Four Seasons Resort Chiang Mai.  Arrive in the afternoon for some time to relax.  This evening, you may choose to have a sumptuous room&amp;#45;service dinner served on your private, candlelit sala (pavilion) overlooking the resort&apos;s beautiful gardens, terraced rice paddies and the mountains beyond &amp;#45; a dinner to remember! Meals BD</description>
  <overnight>Four Seasons Resort Chiang Mai, Thailand</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="11">
  <title>Elephants of the North</title>
  <description>Thailand&apos;s national animal, the elephant has always been an integral part of Chiang Mai culture.  On today&apos;s memorable excursion to an elephant camp, you&apos;ll get to feed these gentle giants, watch them demonstrate skills &amp;#45; including painting a picture! &amp;#45; in a teak forest, and climb aboard one for a remarkable elephant trek* through the jungle, followed by a picnic lunch.  The afternoon is free to relax in your idyllic Mae Rim Valley setting, or head off on your own to see local artisans at work creating celadon pottery.  Meals BLD</description>
  <overnight>Four Seasons Resort Chiang Mai, Thailand</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="12">
  <title>Hill Tribe Villages / Doi Suthep </title>
  <description>An unforgettable experience awaits you among the hill tribe villages of Chiang Mai, where you&apos;ll meet people of the Padong, Palong and Karen tribes; observe their unique folkways firsthand, and try on the traditional neck rings worn by members of the Karen tribe.  A scenic drive into Doi Suthep National Park includes a visit to Wat Phrathat Doi Suthep, perched atop a 3,542&amp;#45;foot peak.  Enjoy the afternoon at leisure and dinner &amp;#224; la carte tonight.  Meals BD</description>
  <overnight>Four Seasons Resort Chiang Mai, Thailand</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="13">
  <title>Fly to Bangkok, Thailand&apos;s Capital</title>
  <description>Spend a morning at leisure prior to an afternoon flight to Bangkok for a two&amp;#45;night stay in deluxe Krungthep Wing rooms at the Shangri&amp;#45;La Hotel, Bangkok.  A Chao Phraya River dinner cruise welcomes you to the Thai capital, a remarkable blend of ancient and modern.  Meals BD</description>
  <overnight>Shangri-La Hotel, Bangkok, Thailand</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="14">
  <title>Grand Palace / Reclining Buddha</title>
  <description>Depart the hotel via express boat for a morning of Bangkok sightseeing.  Walk to Bangkok&apos;s dazzling 18th&amp;#45;century Grand Palace, where the Thai kings and their courts resided until the turn of the 20th century; while there, view the opulent Emerald Buddha, one of Thailand&apos;s most sacred sites.  Visit Wat Po, Bangkok&apos;s largest and oldest temple, home to the Reclining Buddha.  After a traditional Thai lunch, return by motorboat to the hotel for a fascinating lesson on ch&apos;i, the universal life force in eastern philosophy, at the hotel&apos;s Chi Spa.  Meals BL</description>
  <overnight>Shangri-La Hotel, Bangkok, Thailand</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="15">
  <title>Bangkok Klongs / Royal Barges</title>
  <description>Board a boat for a cruise up the Chao Phraya River and through a network of canals called klongs, for a close&amp;#45;up look at local life along the river.  Stop at Wat Arun, then continue on to the Royal Barge Museum to see spectacular barges like those that carried 17th&amp;#45;century Thai royalty.  After touring the golden teak Vimanmek Palace, visit the city&apos;s Seafood Market to choose fresh ingredients for your lunch, which market chefs will prepare for you.  Tonight, mark the end of your remarkable journey through Southeast Asia with a farewell dinner.  Meals BLD</description>
  <overnight>Shangri-La Hotel, Bangkok, Thailand</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="16">
  <title>Journey Home</title>
  <description>Tour ends: Bangkok. A transfer is included from Shangri-La Hotel, Bangkok to Bangkok International Airport; allow 2 1/2 hours for flight check-in at the airport.</description>
  <overnight></overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast</meals>
</itineraryDay>
  </itineraryDetails>
  <highlights>
		
				Bangkok 
		
				~  Chiang Mai ~ 
		
		
				Hanoi 
		
				~ Hué ~ 
		
		
				China 
		
				Beach ~ 
		
		
				Ho Chi Minh City 
		
				~ 
		
		
				Angkor 
		
				
				
		
</highlights>
  <tauckValues>
    <value order="1">A jungle trek atop an elephant in Chiang Mai  and a chance to watch elephants paint pictures!</value><value order="2">Cyclo rides through Old Hanoi, Hu and Hoi An</value><value order="3">Boat cruises on Cambodias Tonle Sap Lake, through Bangkoks klongs and along Hus Perfume River</value><value order="4">Trip to a local seafood market in Bangkok where a chef prepares the fresh ingredients you choose for lunch</value><value order="5">Visit to a local kindergarten in Da Nang</value><value order="6">Lessons on chi and digital photography</value><value order="7">Hill tribe village visits to meet people of the Padong, Palong and Karen tribes of Chiang Mai</value><value order="8">Guided visits to UNESCO World Heritage Sites including Angkor, Hu and Hoi An; see the Reclining Buddha, Hu Citadel, and Cu Chi Tunnels</value><value order="9">Most meals  38 (15 breakfasts, 10 lunches, 13 dinners)</value><value order="10">Service charges, taxes, gratuities to local guides, porterage and airport transfers</value>
  </tauckValues>  
  <departureDates>
    <date>
    <day>17</day>
    <month>9</month>
    <year>2010</year>
    <singlesPrice>7490</singlesPrice>
    <doublesPrice>5990</doublesPrice>
    <triplesPrice>5720</triplesPrice>
    <quadsPrice>0</quadsPrice>
    
  </date>
  <date>
    <day>11</day>
    <month>10</month>
    <year>2010</year>
    <singlesPrice>8090</singlesPrice>
    <doublesPrice>6590</doublesPrice>
    <triplesPrice>6335</triplesPrice>
    <quadsPrice>0</quadsPrice>
    
  </date>
  <date>
    <day>29</day>
    <month>10</month>
    <year>2010</year>
    <singlesPrice>8090</singlesPrice>
    <doublesPrice>6590</doublesPrice>
    <triplesPrice>6335</triplesPrice>
    <quadsPrice>0</quadsPrice>
    
  </date>
  <date>
    <day>15</day>
    <month>11</month>
    <year>2010</year>
    <singlesPrice>8090</singlesPrice>
    <doublesPrice>6590</doublesPrice>
    <triplesPrice>6335</triplesPrice>
    <quadsPrice>0</quadsPrice>
    
  </date>
  <date>
    <day>17</day>
    <month>12</month>
    <year>2010</year>
    <singlesPrice>8090</singlesPrice>
    <doublesPrice>6590</doublesPrice>
    <triplesPrice>6335</triplesPrice>
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  </date>

</departureDates>

</tour><tour>
  <sourceId>IH2010</sourceId>
  <title>Italian Lakes, Venice, Florence &amp; Rome</title>
  <summary>
    <![CDATA[When you travel Italy with Tauck, you truly experience the romantic landscapes that inspired the imagination of poets, artists and writers for centuries; a journey from the beautiful Italian lakes to the lush Tuscan countryside and the timeless treasures of Venice, Florence and Rome is highlighted by an after-hours guided visit to the Vatican Museums and the Sistine Chapel – a Tauck Exclusive! Select Small Group departure dates available with no more than 26 Tauck guests!
]]>
  </summary>
  <description>
    <![CDATA[Superb travel Italy style! From Michelangelo&apos;s statue of David to the echoes of gladiators at Rome&apos;s Colosseum, the art and drama of the ages inspire this journey. Confirmed reservations provide an opportunity to view the original works of the masters at the Uffizi Gallery, and Florence&apos;s Galleria dell&apos;Accademia. Enjoy confirmed reservations at the Doges&apos; Palace in Venice, see St. Mark&apos;s Square, and take a gondola ride on the canals complete with a serenade. Visit the medieval town of Siena in the Tuscan countryside. Take a private boat across Lake Como at the foot of the Alps, and a high-speed train ride to Florence. See the Colosseum in Rome, and view the inspiring treasures of the Vatican Museums and the Sistine Chapel during an after-hours guided visit – a Tauck Exclusive! And of course, you&apos;ll also have ample time to pursue what interests you most in Venice, Florence, and Rome when you travel Italy with Tauck!
]]>
  </description>
  <link>http://www.tauck.com/tours/europe-tours/italy-tours/travel-italy-ih-2010</link>
  <durationDays>10</durationDays>
  <durationDetails>10 days and 9 nights.</durationDetails>
  <tripType>ESCORTED_TOUR</tripType>
  <brand>TWD</brand>
  <subbrand>Europe</subbrand>
  <gradeRating>ALL_AGES</gradeRating>
  <comfortRating>COMFORTABLE_MIXED</comfortRating>
  <startingLocation>Milan, Italy</startingLocation>
  <prices>
    <price currency="USD">5590</price>
    <priceDetails><![CDATA[All prices are per person in U.S. dollars. ]]></priceDetails>
  </prices>
  <images>
    <image isMain="true">http://tools.tauck.com/Files/ItineraryImages/ListImages/img_IH2010_list.jpg</image>
    <image>http://tools.tauck.com/Files/ItineraryImages/altImages/IH2010_alt1.jpg</image>
    <image>http://tools.tauck.com/Files/ItineraryImages/altImages/IH2010_alt2.jpg</image>
    <image>http://tools.tauck.com/Files/ItineraryImages/altImages/IH2010_alt3.jpg</image>
    <image isMap="true">http://tools.tauck.com/Files/ItineraryImages/MapImages/map_IH2010.jpg</image>
  </images>
  <itinerary>
    <![CDATA[		
1. Arrive
Milan / Lake Lugano

Tour
begins: 6:00 PM, Grand Hotel Eden. A transfer is included from Milan’s Malpensa Airport to
Grand Hotel Eden in Lugano. Your hotel is located along the enchanting shores
of Lake Lugano. This Italian-style city boasts a waterfront promenade, stylish
boutiques and outdoor cafés set along the lake; enjoy time at leisure to
explore on your own. We invite you to join us this evening for a welcome
cocktail reception and dinner at your five-star lakefront resort hotel.   Meals D
 
2. Lake
Como / Bellagio
Lake Como is
often considered the most alluring of the Italian lakes, with the Alps as its
dramatic backdrop. Begin a full day’s discovery of Italy’s lakes with a visit
to lovely Villa Carlotta in Tremezzo, which dates back to the late 17th century
and is known for its colorful landscaped gardens and works of sculpture. A
private boat cruise takes you across Lake Como to Bellagio; its picturesque setting
has made it a locale that has been sought after by visitors for centuries.
After time to explore at your leisure, another private boat cruise takes you
past elegant lakeside villas to Como, followed by a return to Lugano, where the
evening is free to enjoy as you wish. Meals B
 
3.
Explore Delightful Venice
Travel today
to lovely Venice, among the world’s most famous cities; witness its unique
design, along an intricate system of canals. Join our local guide for a walking
tour of the city’s highlights. Discover the treasures of Piazza San Marco (St.
Mark’s Square). Visit dramatic St. Mark’s Basilica, with its exquisite mosaics
and detailed carvings; it is a blend of Eastern and Western inspirations. You
will also visit the Doges’ Palace, official residence of the rulers of Venice
in the Middle Ages. Be serenaded on a memorable gondola ride along the canals
this evening, and dine in a popular Venetian restaurant. Meals BLD
 
4. Venice
at Leisure
Spend the
entire day exploring Venice at leisure – your Tauck Director can offer
recommendations. Possibilities include Galleria dell’Accademia, boasting one of
the world’s largest collections of Venetian art, and the Peggy Guggenheim
Collection, which features an amazing collection of modern art housed in Guggenheim’s
former home, the 18th-century Palazzo Venier dei Leoni on the Grand Canal. You
may also wish to visit some of the islands of the Venetian Lagoon; each is
uniquely different and great fun to explore. Meals B
 
5. Rail
to Florence
A high-speed
rail journey across the plains of the historic Po River aboard Eurostar leads to Florence. Tuscany’s revered
city of art, set in the pastoral Italian countryside, is renowned as the
“birthplace of the Renaissance” for the architecture and art that flourished
here between the 13th and 16th centuries. A lecture by an art historian
provides a good introduction to landmark sites such as the magnificent bronze
doors of the octagonal-shaped Baptistry. Visit one of the world’s most
acclaimed art museums – Galleria dell’Accademia, Europe’s first art school and
home to beloved works such as Michelangelo’s David. The afternoon ends with a walking
tour through the historical center of Florence, declared a UNESCO World
Heritage Site. Meals BLD
 
6.
Treasures of Florence
Reservations
have been made at the Uffizi Gallery to view its works of art with a local
guide; works collected by the Medicis were first displayed here in the 1580s,
making the Uffizi the oldest art gallery in the world. Your afternoon is free
to sightsee as you wish; you may want to see Michelangelo’s marble creations in
the Medici Chapel, stroll across the Ponte Vecchio, or visit the beautiful
Boboli Gardens. The list of inspiring sights is endless, and most are located
fairly close together for easy exploring. Meals B
 
7. Siena
/ Rome
Journey
through Chianti, known for red wine, timeless art and classic architecture, as
well as landscapes rich in vineyards, olive groves, and cypresses. Arrive in
medieval Siena; walk to the shell-shaped Piazza del Campo, where the Palio, Siena’s world-famous traditional
bareback horse race, has been run twice a year for centuries. Wander through
the narrow streets to visit the black-and-white Duomo, then continue your
travels through the green countryside of Tuscany, Umbria and Lazio to Rome,
where you’ll spend three nights at one of Europe’s premier hotels. Meals BD
 
8.
After-Hours Vatican Museums Visit
In
remarkable Rome today, enjoy a Tauck Exclusive – an after-hours tour of the Vatican
Museums (day of visit may vary). No trip to Rome would be complete without a
visit to the Vatican, a state and city all in one; see the Candelabra Gallery,
Map Gallery and the Tapestries, home to a vast collection of art treasures.
Enter the Sistine Chapel to view Michelangelo’s famous ceiling; these striking
frescoes were refurbished several years ago, displaying once again their
original fresh colors. Without crowds, you’ll discover that the floor is as
famous as the ceiling! Meals B
 
9.
Explore Imperial Rome
Today you’ll
experience Rome’s rich history as a local guide shows you the most important
sights of this ancient city; avoid long lines with Tauck’s pre-arranged
reservations on a visit to the incomparable Colosseum. Explore St. Peter’s
Basilica and St. Peter’s Square before spending the afternoon as you please
(day may vary). Please join us this evening for a cocktail reception and
dinner. Meals BD
 
10.
Journey Home
Tour ends: Rome. Fly home anytime. A transfer is included from St. Regis Grand Hotel,
Rome to Leonardo da Vinci Airport in Fiumicino; allow 2 1/2 hours for check-in.
Meals B
]]>
  </itinerary>
  <itineraryDetails>
    <itineraryDay day="1">
  <title>Arrive Milan / Lake Lugano</title>
  <description>Tour begins: 6:00 PM, Grand Hotel Eden. A transfer is included from Milan’s Malpensa Airport to Grand Hotel Eden in Lugano. Your hotel is located along the enchanting shores of Lake Lugano. This Italian-style city boasts a waterfront promenade, stylish boutiques and outdoor cafés set along the lake; enjoy time at leisure to explore on your own. We invite you to join us this evening for a welcome cocktail reception and dinner at your five-star lakefront resort hotel.</description>
  <overnight>Grand Hotel Eden, Lugano, Switzerland</overnight>
  <meals>Dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="2">
  <title>Lake Como / Bellagio</title>
  <description>Lake Como is often considered the most alluring of the Italian lakes, with the Alps as its dramatic backdrop. Begin a full day’s discovery of Italy’s lakes with a visit to lovely Villa Carlotta in Tremezzo, which dates back to the late 17th century and is known for its colorful landscaped gardens and works of sculpture. A private boat cruise takes you across Lake Como to Bellagio; its picturesque setting has made it a locale that has been sought after by visitors for centuries. After time to explore at your leisure, another private boat cruise takes you past elegant lakeside villas to Como, followed by a return to Lugano, where the evening is free to enjoy as you wish.</description>
  <overnight>Grand Hotel Eden, Lugano, Switzerland</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="3">
  <title>Explore Delightful Venice</title>
  <description>Travel today to lovely Venice, among the world’s most famous cities; witness its unique design, along an intricate system of canals. Join our local guide for a walking tour of the city’s highlights. Discover the treasures of Piazza San Marco (St. Mark’s Square). Visit dramatic St. Mark’s Basilica, with its exquisite mosaics and detailed carvings; it is a blend of Eastern and Western inspirations. You will also visit the Doges’ Palace, official residence of the rulers of Venice in the Middle Ages. Be serenaded on a memorable gondola ride along the canals this evening, and dine in a popular Venetian restaurant.</description>
  <overnight>Hotel Danieli, Venice, Italy</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="4">
  <title>Venice at Leisure</title>
  <description>Spend the entire day exploring Venice at leisure – your Tauck Director can offer recommendations. Possibilities include Galleria dell’Accademia, boasting one of the world’s largest collections of Venetian art, and the Peggy Guggenheim Collection, which features an amazing collection of modern art housed in Guggenheim’s former home, the 18th-century Palazzo Venier dei Leoni on the Grand Canal. You may also wish to visit some of the islands of the Venetian Lagoon; each is uniquely different and great fun to explore.</description>
  <overnight>Hotel Danieli, Venice, Italy</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="5">
  <title>Rail to Florence</title>
  <description>A high-speed rail journey across the plains of the historic Po River aboard Eurostar leads to Florence. Tuscany’s revered city of art, set in the pastoral Italian countryside, is renowned as the “birthplace of the Renaissance” for the architecture and art that flourished here between the 13th and 16th centuries. A lecture by an art historian provides a good introduction to landmark sites such as the magnificent bronze doors of the octagonal-shaped Baptistry. Visit one of the world’s most acclaimed art museums – Galleria dell’Accademia, Europe’s first art school and home to beloved works such as Michelangelo’s David. The afternoon ends with a walking tour through the historical center of Florence, declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site.</description>
  <overnight>The Westin Excelsior, Florence, Italy</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="6">
  <title>Treasures of Florence</title>
  <description>Reservations have been made at the Uffizi Gallery to view its works of art with a local guide; works collected by the Medicis were first displayed here in the 1580s, making the Uffizi the oldest art gallery in the world. Your afternoon is free to sightsee as you wish; you may want to see Michelangelo’s marble creations in the Medici Chapel, stroll across the Ponte Vecchio, or visit the beautiful Boboli Gardens. The list of inspiring sights is endless, and most are located fairly close together for easy exploring.</description>
  <overnight>The Westin Excelsior, Florence, Italy</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="7">
  <title>Siena / Rome</title>
  <description>Journey through Chianti, known for red wine, timeless art and classic architecture, as well as landscapes rich in vineyards, olive groves, and cypresses. Arrive in medieval Siena; walk to the shell-shaped Piazza del Campo, where the Palio, Siena’s world-famous traditional bareback horse race, has been run twice a year for centuries. Wander through the narrow streets to visit the black-and-white Duomo, then continue your travels through the green countryside of Tuscany, Umbria and Lazio to Rome, where you’ll spend three nights at one of Europe’s premier hotels.</description>
  <overnight>The St. Regis Grand Hotel, Rome, Italy</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="8">
  <title>After-Hours Vatican Museums Visit</title>
  <description>In remarkable Rome today, enjoy a Tauck Exclusive – an after-hours tour of the Vatican Museums (day of visit may vary). No trip to Rome would be complete without a visit to the Vatican, a state and city all in one; see the Candelabra Gallery, Map Gallery and the Tapestries, home to a vast collection of art treasures. Enter the Sistine Chapel to view Michelangelo’s famous ceiling; these striking frescoes were refurbished several years ago, displaying once again their original fresh colors. Without crowds, you’ll discover that the floor is as famous as the ceiling!</description>
  <overnight>The St. Regis Grand Hotel, Rome, Italy</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="9">
  <title>Explore Imperial Rome</title>
  <description>Today you’ll experience Rome’s rich history as a local guide shows you the most important sights of this ancient city; avoid long lines with Tauck’s pre-arranged reservations on a visit to the incomparable Colosseum. Explore St. Peter’s Basilica and St. Peter’s Square before spending the afternoon as you please (day may vary). Please join us this evening for a cocktail reception and dinner.</description>
  <overnight>The St. Regis Grand Hotel, Rome, Italy</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="10">
  <title>Journey Home</title>
  <description>Tour ends: Rome. Fly home anytime. A transfer is included from St. Regis Grand Hotel, Rome to Leonardo da Vinci Airport in Fiumicino; allow 2 1/2 hours for check-in.</description>
  <overnight></overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast</meals>
</itineraryDay>
  </itineraryDetails>
  <highlights>		
Lake Como ~ Lake Lugano ~ Venice ~ Tuscany ~ Florence ~ Siena ~ Rome ~ The Vatican 
</highlights>
  <tauckValues>
    <value order="1">TAUCKS YELLOW ROADS! Traverse Lake Comos stunning shoreline and Lombardys pastoral landscapes to Venice</value><value order="2">TAUCK EXCLUSIVE!  An after-hours guided visit to the Vatican Museums and the Sistine Chapel, without the crowds and without being rushed  a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see the treasures of the Vatican unhurried</value><value order="3">Confirmed reservations at the Doges Palace, Uffizi Gallery, Galleria dellAccademia, and Romes Colosseum  discover the worlds great art and architecture without waiting in long lines</value><value order="4">A private boat ride across beautiful Lake Como to Bellagio; view elegant lakeside villas</value><value order="5">Gliding through the historic canals of Venice aboard a gondola as local musicians serenade you with traditional Italian songs</value><value order="6">Airport transfers upon arrival and departure</value><value order="7">16 meals (9 breakfasts, 2 lunches and 5 dinners), service charges, gratuities to local guides, admission fees, taxes and porterage</value>
  </tauckValues>  
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    <day>29</day>
    <month>5</month>
    <year>2010</year>
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    <day>11</day>
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    <year>2010</year>
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</tour><tour>
  <sourceId>IJ2010</sourceId>
  <title>Israel and Jordan</title>
  <summary>
    <![CDATA[		
New for 2010!
 This multi-dimensional tour explores the historical and cultural connections that are so much a part of this fascinating area of the world, from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, the Sea of Galilee, the Dead Sea, Petra and more.
]]>
  </summary>
  <description>
    <![CDATA[New for 2010, Tauck&apos;s
Israel and Jordan tour explores all the threads – civilizations, cultures,
history, traditions, religions and the arts – that are so intricately woven
together to make this such a fascinating area of the world. Gain special
insights into its diversity from knowledgeable local guides and experts in
their fields as your Israel travel takes you from bustling modern-day Tel Aviv
to such ancient sites as 4000-year-old Jaffa, King Herod&apos;s port city of Caesarea,
mountaintop Masada and Jerusalem&apos;s Old City. Expand your understanding of the
religions that have so much to do with Israel and Jordan, past and present,
during a Tauck Exclusive private panel discussion. Sail on the Sea of Galilee,
relax at a resort along the Dead Sea and travel on Jordan&apos;s King&apos;s Highway to
the fabled pink city of Petra. Private guided tours and special cultural
experiences for Tauck guests only bring it all to life. All through Tauck&apos;s
Jordan and Israel travel, our hotels put you in the best locations, close to
all that you&apos;ve come so far to see. And you can get a more comprehensive look
at this part of the world by combining Israel &amp; Jordan with our 12-day Egypt: Jewels Along the Nile!

Click here to download a full color PDF of this itinerary!
]]>
  </description>
  <link>http://www.tauck.com/tours/middle-east-travel/israel-travel-ij-2010</link>
  <durationDays>14</durationDays>
  <durationDetails>14 days and 13 nights.</durationDetails>
  <tripType>ESCORTED_TOUR</tripType>
  <brand>TWD</brand>
  <subbrand>Exotics</subbrand>
  <gradeRating>ALL_AGES</gradeRating>
  <comfortRating>COMFORTABLE_MIXED</comfortRating>
  <startingLocation>Tel Aviv, Israel</startingLocation>
  <prices>
    <price currency="USD">4790</price>
    <priceDetails><![CDATA[All prices are per person in U.S. dollars. ]]></priceDetails>
  </prices>
  <images>
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  <itinerary>
    <![CDATA[1. Arrive Tel Aviv
Tour begins: 7:00 PM, InterContinental David Tel Aviv. A transfer is included from Ben Gurion Airport to the InterContinental David Tel Aviv, located on a beachfront promenade in the city’s most fashionable neighborhood, with sweeping views of the Mediterranean Sea. Join us this evening for a welcome cocktail reception and dinner. Meals D
 
2. Ancient Jaffa and Tel Aviv 
A burgeoning high-tech economy has made Tel Aviv one of the wealthiest, most eclectic, cosmopolitan cities in the Middle East – part SoHo, part Silicon Valley, part Mediterranean resort. Your day begins with a Hebrew lesson, followed by a walking tour of Jaffa, the ancient Arab seaport at the heart of the modern city. This enclave is home to a diverse population of Jews, Muslims, and Christians, its winding stone streets and alleys a maze of galleries, antique shops, flea markets, and restaurants. As a Tauck Exclusive, visit the home and gallery of artist Ilana Goor, whose sculpture, furniture, jewelry and clothing designs are world-renowned. After lunch at a local café, traveling from the romantic eccentricity of Jaffa to the Bauhaus architecture of Rothschild Boulevard is a leap in time. A flood of Jewish refugees from Germany in the 1930s brought functional, modern design with them, and the plethora of square white buildings with curved balconies on every street earned Tel Aviv the nickname “The White City“ and a UNESCO World Heritage designation. But there the austerity of Tel Aviv ends. For the remainder of the day, spend time exploring this hip young city on your own. Your hotel is within easy walking distance of the beach, restaurants and a nightlife second to none. Meals BL

3. Herod’s Ancient Caesarea and Haifa
Today you’ll gain insights on the changing face of this ancient country. Journey north to the ruins of Caesarea, a port city built by Herod the Great, and one of Israel’s most important archaeological sites. Leave the sun-baked sands for the green foothills of Mount Carmel and the Baha’i Shrine and Gardens on the northern slope of Mount Carmel, featuring 19 terraces and immaculate gardens that lead to the golden-domed tomb of the Bab, messenger of the Baha’i Faith, which teaches that no religion has a monopoly on the truth. Guests can participate in a “Prophet Sharing” panel discussion, a truly unique opportunity to ask questions and share information about the major religions that coexist in this multicultural land. From the gardens, it’s an easy walk to the lovely Colony Hotel in Haifa’s historic German Quarter; this neighborhood of 19th-century houses is distinctly European, bustling with shops and cafés. Dine from a selection of restaurants, after which you may want to explore a bit or just enjoy the intimacy of the hotel, closeness of the sea, and amazing vision of the Baha’i terraces rising above the city, illuminated at night. Meals BLD

4. Along the Sea of Galilee
Travel inland to the Sea of Galilee where Jesus gathered his first disciples among the fishermen. Visit the Galilee Boat, a 2000-year-old fishing vessel discovered in the mudflats of Galilee in 1986. Board a working replica of the boat and sail the waters of Galilee on a guided tour to see how fishermen in Jesus’s time lived and worked. Stop in Tiberius for lunch at a local restaurant, with music by an Israeli folk band, and learn to dance the Horah. This rural area contains many kibbutzim – farming communities which teach self-reliance, collective action, and civic responsibility. Visit one of these communes to learn why working on a kibbutz is a traditional Israeli rite of passage. Return to Haifa where the evening is yours to explore. Meals BL

5. Akko, Place of Many Rulers
The walled city of Akko is where 13th-century Crusaders made their last stand against overwhelming Mameluk forces. Successive waves of conquerors – Greek, Roman, Crusader, Arab, Turk, and British – have all left their marks upon this small coastal enclave. Explore the old citadel, with its warren of streets and alleys, arches, towers, tunnels and underground chambers. Experience the tranquility of the 18th-century Jezzar Pasha Mosque, with its graceful minarets and stunning mosaics, built over the ruins of a Crusader church; wind through the underground vaults, once a refuge to Richard the Lionhearted, later used as a prison during the British Mandate. Even more intriguing is the cultural mosaic of Akko today, evidenced by its mosque, church, synagogue, and Baha’i temple, and ethnic cafés. Lunch at one of the city’s best-known, most sought-after restaurants, Uri Buri, run by Chef Uri Yirmias; casual with understated elegance, his seafood is famous all over Israel. Next stop is Jerusalem; pause at the Mount of Olives for an overlook before arriving at the David Citadel, a five-star, luxury hotel within walking distance of the Old City walls. Dine à la carte tonight at Scala, one of the best restaurants in Jerusalem. Meals BLD

6. Jerusalem – City of Cultural Diversity
Watch the sunrise over Jerusalem from the balcony of your hotel room, the ancient walls, steeples and domes of the fabled city taking shape before your eyes. It is a place in the mind as much as in stone, an amalgam of the religions, cultures, and passions which have fought over it, conquered it, and reshaped it for thousands of years. Your guided tour begins at the Western Wall, the last remnant of Solomon’s temple, which held the Ark of the Covenant. The wide plaza before the wall is an open-air synagogue where Jews gather daily to pray and offer supplications to God, sometimes written on paper and stuffed into cracks between the massive stones. Traverse the Cardo, a bustling arcade where you can bargain for tapestries, handicrafts, and religious artifacts. Descend into the ornate, ingeniously engineered Sephardic Synagogues, built below street level during Ottoman rule in obeyance of a law that no Jewish temple could be higher than the surrounding houses. After lunch, you can explore the city on your own with a HolyPass, providing entry to sights and museums, as well as discounts to a variety of cafes and restaurants. Meals BL

7. Garden of Gethsemane &amp; the Old City
Walk the Garden of Gethsemane, on the Mount of Olives, before returning to the Old City for a visit to the magnificent Dome of the Rock, a 7th-century Islamic shrine built on the Temple Mount. Its golden dome shelters the rock from which the Prophet Mohammed ascended to Heaven; for Jews, it covers the holiest spot on Earth, the Foundation Stone of Solomon’s inner temple. Retrace the steps Jesus took on the Via Dolorosa en route to the Crucifixion. The winding path through the Christian Quarter ends at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, which encloses the place where Jesus was crucified and buried. Lunch today is in the German Colony (Emek Refaim), an upscale district; the immigrants who settled this area were deported by the British during World War II for openly supporting the Nazis, a historical footnote that is a prelude to your next destination, Yad Vashem, the Holocaust Memorial Museum. A guide will walk you through the images, survivors’ accounts, and artifacts that put human faces on the Holocaust; it is a deeply moving experience. Join us this evening at the Tower of David for a private reception, followed by a spectacular sound-and-light show that tells the history of Jerusalem through music and images splashed across the tower walls. Meals BL

8. Masada / Dead Sea Scrolls
Depart Jerusalem for Masada, a mountain fortress which is a UNESCO World Heritage site, and a must-see destination. The ruins, reached by cable car, are on a windswept plateau 1300 feet above the Dead Sea in a vast, desolate landscape. A Jewish revolt against the Romans ended here in 73 AD; 1000 Zealots held the fort against a Roman army of 10,000 in a siege that lasted two years before the Romans could break their defenses. Rather than surrender, the Jews committed mass suicide. Masada is as important today, a connection to the modern state as Israeli soldiers swear their oath of allegiance, “Masada shall not fall again,” at the site each year. The power of the landscape, the ruins, and its history will forever move you. On the return trip to Jerusalem, drive by Qumran, where the Dead Sea Scrolls were discovered; back in Jerusalem, view the Scrolls themselves at the Israeli Museum. Use your HolyPass for the remainder of the day to explore the city and dine on your own. Meals B

9. Bethlehem / Crossing into Jordan
You have a choice of spending additional time in Jerusalem or joining us for a guided sightseeing excursion. Local guides will take you behind the towering security barriers to the West Bank for a visit to Bethlehem. Tourism is the primary industry here, but it is also home to fine art by local craftsmen with centuries-old skills. Built in the 4th century, the Church of the Nativity exterior is plain and unassuming; inside, it is an impressive hall of painted colonnades and rich mosaics, where a silver star on the floor marks the spot where Jesus was born. Walk from Manger Square to the Milk Grotto, where the Holy Family took refuge before their flight into Egypt. Return to Jerusalem one last time for lunch before crossing into Jordan; your destination is a luxury resort and spa on the northern shores of the Dead Sea. Meals BLD

10. Day Along the Dead Sea or Jerash
The Dead Sea is the “Great Salt Lake” of the Middle East, and true to its name, devoid of life except for the many visitors who come to marvel at its dramatic landscape, swim in its buoyant waters, or cover themselves in its mineral-rich, therapeutic black mud. You can float effortlessly here like nowhere else; the salt content is so high that it crystallizes in reefs, and clings to rocks in masses of “icicles,” creating an Arctic panorama in the desert. Spend a relaxing day at the resort, enjoy the spa, or set off on an excursion to Jerash, site of one of the best-preserved Roman cities in the Middle East. Wander among its fine examples of temples, arches, theatres, baths and city walls. Meals BL

11. To Mount Nebo and Petra
Depart the Dead Seas for Petra; on the way, stop at Mount Nebo, where Moses looked out upon the “Promised Land.” You’ll also visit the Memorial Church of Moses to see its well-preserved ancient mosaics located inside the excavated Old Baptistery. Biblical history is everywhere en route, most notably in Madaba, where you’ll visit St. George’s Greek Orthodox Church to view a map from the 6th century detailing major biblical sites. Enjoy a lunch of traditional Jordanian specialties, and arrive at your hotel late afternoon where you can dine at your leisure. Meals BLD

12. Pink City of Petra &amp; Bedouin Dinner
A short walk from your hotel lies the entrance to one of the world’s greatest archaeological sites – the 2,000-year-old city of Petra, which the ancient Nabataeans carved out of colorful sandstone cliffs and today is one of the “New Seven Wonders of the World.” Explore this incredible site’s tombs, temples and other structures on foot as well as by horse cart throughout most of the day. The powerful visual imagery of the Treasury will stay with you for a lifetime. Lunch at the Basin Restaurant in the old city, and return by camel. Spend the afternoon at leisure at the hotel, then join us for tonight’s special farewell dinner. Join us this evening for a real taste of Jordan when we’ll dine Bedouin-style at a traditional feast. A dance troupe of Jordanian men, dressed in customary Bedouin garments, entertain with a performance of the Dabkeh sword dance for a look at centuries-old traditions. This evening’s dinner is a fitting conclusion to our two-week journey that will forever change your life. Meals BLD

13. Amazing King’s Highway to Amman
You’ll get a good look at daily life in Jordan on a drive that winds along the 5000-year-old King’s Highway, through golden canyons and ancient villages, to Amman; it is one of the oldest continuously used roads in the world. Guests with early flights tonight will be taken directly to Queen Alia International Airport while those departing late night or early the next morning will stay at Le Méridien Amman. Meals BLD

14. Journey Home
Tour ends: Amman. A transfer is included from Le Méridien Amman to Queen Alia International Airport. Allow 2 1/2 hours for check-in. Meals B 
]]>
  </itinerary>
  <itineraryDetails>
    <itineraryDay day="1">
  <title>Arrive Tel Aviv</title>
  <description>Tour begins: 7:00 PM, InterContinental David Tel Aviv. A transfer is included from Ben Gurion Airport to the InterContinental David Tel Aviv, located on a beachfront promenade in the city’s most fashionable neighborhood, with sweeping views of the Mediterranean Sea. Join us this evening for a welcome cocktail reception and dinner.</description>
  <overnight>InterContinental David Tel Aviv, Israel</overnight>
  <meals>Dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="2">
  <title>Ancient Jaffa and Tel Aviv</title>
  <description>A burgeoning high-tech economy has made Tel Aviv one of the wealthiest, most eclectic, cosmopolitan cities in the Middle East – part SoHo, part Silicon Valley, part Mediterranean resort. Your day begins with a Hebrew lesson, followed by a walking tour of Jaffa, the ancient Arab seaport at the heart of the modern city. This enclave is home to a diverse population of Jews, Muslims, and Christians, its winding stone streets and alleys a maze of galleries, antique shops, flea markets, and restaurants. As a Tauck Exclusive, visit the home and gallery of artist Ilana Goor, whose sculpture, furniture, jewelry and clothing designs are world-renowned. After lunch at a local café, traveling from the romantic eccentricity of Jaffa to the Bauhaus architecture of Rothschild Boulevard is a leap in time. A flood of Jewish refugees from Germany in the 1930s brought functional, modern design with them, and the plethora of square white buildings with curved balconies on every street earned Tel Aviv the nickname “The White City“ and a UNESCO World Heritage designation. But there the austerity of Tel Aviv ends. For the remainder of the day, spend time exploring this hip young city on your own. Your hotel is within easy walking distance of the beach, restaurants and a nightlife second to none.</description>
  <overnight>InterContinental David Tel Aviv, Israel</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="3">
  <title>Herod’s Ancient Caesarea and Haifa</title>
  <description>Today you’ll gain insights on the changing face of this ancient country. Journey north to the ruins of Caesarea, a port city built by Herod the Great, and one of Israel’s most important archaeological sites. Leave the sun-baked sands for the green foothills of Mount Carmel and the Baha’i Shrine and Gardens on the northern slope of Mount Carmel, featuring 19 terraces and immaculate gardens that lead to the golden-domed tomb of the Bab, messenger of the Baha’i Faith, which teaches that no religion has a monopoly on the truth. Guests can participate in a “Prophet Sharing” panel discussion, a truly unique opportunity to ask questions and share information about the major religions that coexist in this multicultural land. From the gardens, it’s an easy walk to the lovely Colony Hotel in Haifa’s historic German Quarter; this neighborhood of 19th-century houses is distinctly European, bustling with shops and cafés. Dine from a selection of restaurants, after which you may want to explore a bit or just enjoy the intimacy of the hotel, closeness of the sea, and amazing vision of the Baha’i terraces rising above the city, illuminated at night.</description>
  <overnight>The Colony Hotel Haifa, Israel</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="4">
  <title>Along the Sea of Galilee</title>
  <description>Travel inland to the Sea of Galilee where Jesus gathered his first disciples among the fishermen. Visit the Galilee Boat, a 2000-year-old fishing vessel discovered in the mudflats of Galilee in 1986. Board a working replica of the boat and sail the waters of Galilee on a guided tour to see how fishermen in Jesus’s time lived and worked. Stop in Tiberius for lunch at a local restaurant, with music by an Israeli folk band, and learn to dance the Horah. This rural area contains many kibbutzim – farming communities which teach self-reliance, collective action, and civic responsibility. Visit one of these communes to learn why working on a kibbutz is a traditional Israeli rite of passage. Return to Haifa where the evening is yours to explore.</description>
  <overnight>The Colony Hotel Haifa, Israel</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="5">
  <title>Akko, Place of Many Rulers</title>
  <description>The walled city of Akko is where 13th-century Crusaders made their last stand against overwhelming Mameluk forces. Successive waves of conquerors – Greek, Roman, Crusader, Arab, Turk, and British – have all left their marks upon this small coastal enclave. Explore the old citadel, with its warren of streets and alleys, arches, towers, tunnels and underground chambers. Experience the tranquility of the 18th-century Jezzar Pasha Mosque, with its graceful minarets and stunning mosaics, built over the ruins of a Crusader church; wind through the underground vaults, once a refuge to Richard the Lionhearted, later used as a prison during the British Mandate. Even more intriguing is the cultural mosaic of Akko today, evidenced by its mosque, church, synagogue, and Baha’i temple, and ethnic cafés. Lunch at one of the city’s best-known, most sought-after restaurants, Uri Buri, run by Chef Uri Yirmias; casual with understated elegance, his seafood is famous all over Israel. Next stop is Jerusalem; pause at the Mount of Olives for an overlook before arriving at the David Citadel, a five-star, luxury hotel within walking distance of the Old City walls. Dine à la carte tonight at Scala, one of the best restaurants in Jerusalem.</description>
  <overnight>David Citadel, Jerusalem, Israel</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="6">
  <title>Jerusalem – City of Cultural Diversity</title>
  <description>Watch the sunrise over Jerusalem from the balcony of your hotel room, the ancient walls, steeples and domes of the fabled city taking shape before your eyes. It is a place in the mind as much as in stone, an amalgam of the religions, cultures, and passions which have fought over it, conquered it, and reshaped it for thousands of years. Your guided tour begins at the Western Wall, the last remnant of Solomon’s temple, which held the Ark of the Covenant. The wide plaza before the wall is an open-air synagogue where Jews gather daily to pray and offer supplications to God, sometimes written on paper and stuffed into cracks between the massive stones. Traverse the Cardo, a bustling arcade where you can bargain for tapestries, handicrafts, and religious artifacts. Descend into the ornate, ingeniously engineered Sephardic Synagogues, built below street level during Ottoman rule in obeyance of a law that no Jewish temple could be higher than the surrounding houses. After lunch, you can explore the city on your own with a HolyPass, providing entry to sights and museums, as well as discounts to a variety of cafes and restaurants.</description>
  <overnight>David Citadel, Jerusalem, Israel</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="7">
  <title>Garden of Gethsemane &amp; the Old City</title>
  <description>Walk the Garden of Gethsemane, on the Mount of Olives, before returning to the Old City for a visit to the magnificent Dome of the Rock, a 7th-century Islamic shrine built on the Temple Mount. Its golden dome shelters the rock from which the Prophet Mohammed ascended to Heaven; for Jews, it covers the holiest spot on Earth, the Foundation Stone of Solomon’s inner temple. Retrace the steps Jesus took on the Via Dolorosa en route to the Crucifixion. The winding path through the Christian Quarter ends at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, which encloses the place where Jesus was crucified and buried. Lunch today is in the German Colony (Emek Refaim), an upscale district; the immigrants who settled this area were deported by the British during World War II for openly supporting the Nazis, a historical footnote that is a prelude to your next destination, Yad Vashem, the Holocaust Memorial Museum. A guide will walk you through the images, survivors’ accounts, and artifacts that put human faces on the Holocaust; it is a deeply moving experience. Join us this evening at the Tower of David for a private reception, followed by a spectacular sound-and-light show that tells the history of Jerusalem through music and images splashed across the tower walls.</description>
  <overnight>David Citadel, Jerusalem, Israel</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="8">
  <title>Masada / Dead Sea Scrolls</title>
  <description>Depart Jerusalem for Masada, a mountain fortress which is a UNESCO World Heritage site, and a must-see destination. The ruins, reached by cable car, are on a windswept plateau 1300 feet above the Dead Sea in a vast, desolate landscape. A Jewish revolt against the Romans ended here in 73 AD; 1000 Zealots held the fort against a Roman army of 10,000 in a siege that lasted two years before the Romans could break their defenses. Rather than surrender, the Jews committed mass suicide. Masada is as important today, a connection to the modern state as Israeli soldiers swear their oath of allegiance, “Masada shall not fall again,” at the site each year. The power of the landscape, the ruins, and its history will forever move you. On the return trip to Jerusalem, drive by Qumran, where the Dead Sea Scrolls were discovered; back in Jerusalem, view the Scrolls themselves at the Israeli Museum. Use your HolyPass for the remainder of the day to explore the city and dine on your own.</description>
  <overnight>David Citadel, Jerusalem, Israel</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="9">
  <title>Bethlehem / Crossing into Jordan</title>
  <description>You have a choice of spending additional time in Jerusalem or joining us for a guided sightseeing excursion. Local guides will take you behind the towering security barriers to the West Bank for a visit to Bethlehem. Tourism is the primary industry here, but it is also home to fine art by local craftsmen with centuries-old skills. Built in the 4th century, the Church of the Nativity exterior is plain and unassuming; inside, it is an impressive hall of painted colonnades and rich mosaics, where a silver star on the floor marks the spot where Jesus was born. Walk from Manger Square to the Milk Grotto, where the Holy Family took refuge before their flight into Egypt. Return to Jerusalem one last time for lunch before crossing into Jordan; your destination is a luxury resort and spa on the northern shores of the Dead Sea.</description>
  <overnight>Mövenpick Resort &amp; Spa Dead Sea, Jordan</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="10">
  <title>Day Along the Dead Sea or Jerash</title>
  <description>The Dead Sea is the “Great Salt Lake” of the Middle East, and true to its name, devoid of life except for the many visitors who come to marvel at its dramatic landscape, swim in its buoyant waters, or cover themselves in its mineral-rich, therapeutic black mud. You can float effortlessly here like nowhere else; the salt content is so high that it crystallizes in reefs, and clings to rocks in masses of “icicles,” creating an Arctic panorama in the desert. Spend a relaxing day at the resort, enjoy the spa, or set off on an excursion to Jerash, site of one of the best-preserved Roman cities in the Middle East. Wander among its fine examples of temples, arches, theatres, baths and city walls.</description>
  <overnight>Mövenpick Resort &amp; Spa Dead Sea, Jordan</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="11">
  <title>To Mount Nebo and Petra</title>
  <description>Depart the Dead Seas for Petra; on the way, stop at Mount Nebo, where Moses looked out upon the “Promised Land.” You’ll also visit the Memorial Church of Moses to see its well-preserved ancient mosaics located inside the excavated Old Baptistery. Biblical history is everywhere en route, most notably in Madaba, where you’ll visit St. George’s Greek Orthodox Church to view a map from the 6th century detailing major biblical sites. Enjoy a lunch of traditional Jordanian specialties, and arrive at your hotel late afternoon where you can dine at your leisure.</description>
  <overnight>Mövenpick Resort Petra, Jordan</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="12">
  <title>Pink City of Petra &amp; Bedouin Dinner</title>
  <description>A short walk from your hotel lies the entrance to one of the world’s greatest archaeological sites – the 2,000-year-old city of Petra, which the ancient Nabataeans carved out of colorful sandstone cliffs and today is one of the “New Seven Wonders of the World.” Explore this incredible site’s tombs, temples and other structures on foot as well as by horse cart throughout most of the day. The powerful visual imagery of the Treasury will stay with you for a lifetime. Lunch at the Basin Restaurant in the old city, and return by camel. Spend the afternoon at leisure at the hotel, then join us for tonight’s special farewell dinner. Join us this evening for a real taste of Jordan when we’ll dine Bedouin-style at a traditional feast. A dance troupe of Jordanian men, dressed in customary Bedouin garments, entertain with a performance of the Dabkeh sword dance for a look at centuries-old traditions. This evening’s dinner is a fitting conclusion to our two-week journey that will forever change your life.</description>
  <overnight>Mövenpick Resort Petra, Jordan</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="13">
  <title>Amazing King’s Highway to Amman</title>
  <description>You’ll get a good look at daily life in Jordan on a drive that winds along the 5000-year-old King’s Highway, through golden canyons and ancient villages, to Amman; it is one of the oldest continuously used roads in the world. Guests with early evening flights tonight will be taken directly to Queen Alia International Airport while those departing late night or early the next morning will stay at Le Méridien Amman.</description>
  <overnight>Le Méridien Amman</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="14">
  <title>J</title>
  <description>Tour ends: Amman. A transfer is included from Le Méridien Amman to Queen Alia International Airport. Allow 2 1/2 hours for check-in.</description>
  <overnight></overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast</meals>
</itineraryDay>
  </itineraryDetails>
  <highlights></highlights>
  <tauckValues>
    <value order="1">Guided visits to diverse sites such as the Western Wall, Garden of Gethsemane, Dome of the Rock, Sephardic Synagogues, Via Dolorosa, Church of the Holy Sepulchre, Mt. Nebo, and Jezzar Pasha Mosque</value><value order="2">Walking tours exploring Israels and Jordans antiquities, guided by local experts &amp; professional Tauck Directors; modern-day discussions including a Prophet Sharing panel discussion in Haifa</value><value order="3">A cruise on the Sea of Galilee aboard a working replica of a 2,000-year-old fishing boat; a sound and light show at the Tower of David</value><value order="4">A visit to the home and gallery of renowned artist Ilana Goor in Tel Aviv for a private showing of her works</value><value order="5">Guided visit to Bethlehem for a tour of the Church of the Nativity and the Milk Grotto; in Petra, a Bedouin- style traditional feast featuring a sword dance</value><value order="6">31 meals (13 breakfasts, 11 lunches, 7 dinners)</value><value order="7">Airport transfers upon arrival and departure as noted; taxes, gratuities to local guides, service charges, and porterage</value>
  </tauckValues>  
  <departureDates>
    <date>
    <day>27</day>
    <month>5</month>
    <year>2010</year>
    <singlesPrice>6116</singlesPrice>
    <doublesPrice>4790</doublesPrice>
    <triplesPrice>4465</triplesPrice>
    <quadsPrice>0</quadsPrice>
    
  </date>
  <date>
    <day>25</day>
    <month>11</month>
    <year>2010</year>
    <singlesPrice>6116</singlesPrice>
    <doublesPrice>4790</doublesPrice>
    <triplesPrice>4465</triplesPrice>
    <quadsPrice>0</quadsPrice>
    
  </date>

</departureDates>

</tour><tour>
  <sourceId>IM2010</sourceId>
  <title>Bellissima Northern Italy</title>
  <summary>
    <![CDATA[An Italy vacation like no other, Tauck&apos;s 11-day Bellissima Northern Italy discovers the many delights of the country&apos;s lesser-known north. From Milan to the Italian lakes to Verona, Mantua, Bologna and Venice, this is an inspiring exploration of Italy off-the-beaten path.
]]>
  </summary>
  <description>
    <![CDATA[You&apos;ve never experienced an Italy vacation like our 11-day Bellissima Northern Italy journey! Begin in fashionable Milan and discover the legacy that da Vinci and Michelangelo left behind. Take in the beauty of the Italian lakes as you visit Isola Bella and Bellagio. Think of Romeo and Juliet as you tour Verona... attend a wine tasting at an agriturismo in Brescia and a balsamic vinegar tasting in Spilamberto. Walk on streets that Dante once trod in Bologna, discovering why the city&apos;s nickname is La Grassa (the Fat One) – and learning the secrets of its cuisine in a cooking class from a master chef followed by a sumptuous dinner. Cap off the perfect northern Italy vacation in Venice, truly a city of dreams.
]]>
  </description>
  <link>http://www.tauck.com/tours/europe-tours/italy-tours/italy-vacation-im-2010</link>
  <durationDays>11</durationDays>
  <durationDetails>11 days and 10 nights.</durationDetails>
  <tripType>ESCORTED_TOUR</tripType>
  <brand>TWD</brand>
  <subbrand>Europe</subbrand>
  <gradeRating>ALL_AGES</gradeRating>
  <comfortRating>COMFORTABLE_MIXED</comfortRating>
  <startingLocation>Milan, Italy</startingLocation>
  <prices>
    <price currency="USD">4990</price>
    <priceDetails><![CDATA[All prices are per person in U.S. dollars. ]]></priceDetails>
  </prices>
  <images>
    <image isMain="true">http://tools.tauck.com/Files/ItineraryImages/ListImages/img_IM2010_list.jpg</image>
    <image>http://tools.tauck.com/Files/ItineraryImages/altImages/IM2010_alt1.jpg</image>
    <image>http://tools.tauck.com/Files/ItineraryImages/altImages/IM2010_alt2.jpg</image>
    <image>http://tools.tauck.com/Files/ItineraryImages/altImages/IM2010_alt3.jpg</image>
    <image isMap="true">http://tools.tauck.com/Files/ItineraryImages/MapImages/map_IM2010.jpg</image>
  </images>
  <itinerary>
    <![CDATA[
		
				1. Arrive
Milan
		
Tour
begins: 6:00 PM at Grand Hotel et de Milan. A transfer is included from Milan Malpensa Airport to
Grand Hotel et de Milan. At once you’ll feel the vibrancy of this cosmopolitan
city that synergizes ancient and modern cultures in its art, fashion, and
cuisine, set in the gorgeous lake region of Lombardy. A welcome cocktail
reception this evening is followed by dinner. Meals D
 
2. Milan:
City of Fashion and Art
On a tour
with a local guide, stand in awe of The Last Supper, painted by Leonardo da Vinci on a
wall of the 15th-century convent, Santa Maria delle Grazie. The quiet power of
this legendary fresco reverberates through centuries of western culture.
Continue from its humble setting to the gilded halls of Castello Sforzesco, the
power center of Milan for generations. Tour the Duomo, one of the largest
Gothic cathedrals in the world; bristling with spires, it is adorned with a
staggering display of statues, gargoyles and stained glass. A more recent
architectural wonder is the Galleria, a vast 19th-century shopping arcade whose
massive glass dome shelters brilliant mosaics, stylish shops and cafés. Take a
walking tour of the city center; after lunch on your own, visit the Pinacoteca
di Brera, housing one of the world’s greatest collections of Italian art,
including works by Raphael, Caravaggio, Bellini and Tintoretto. Enjoy dinner on
your own tonight; your hotel is across the street from one of Milan’s most
elegant streets, famed Via Napoleone. Meals B
 
3.
Beautiful Lake Como and Bellagio
Lake Como is
the most beguiling of Italian lakes, sought after by aristocrats and film stars
for its lush green islands, luscious villas, and the stunning Alps as a
backdrop. Travel to Tremezzo to visit the 17th-century Villa Carlotta, called
“a place of heaven,” set on acres of landscaped gardens. Take a private cruise
to Bellagio, a resort town on the tip of a slender peninsula with spectacular
views of the lake and mountains. Glimpse some of Lake Como’s famed villas on
your way to your opulent hotel in Stresa, nestled in a park-like setting on the
shores of Lake Maggiore, for a two-night stay; built in 1861, it evokes the
grandeur and romance that personified the Belle Époque era. Meals BD
 
4. Lake
Maggiore and Isola Bella
Long and
languorous, Lake Maggiore, with its secluded villas and lazy islands, offers a
retreat from the bustle of the city. Take a boat to Isola Bella and the ancient
home of the Borromeo family, Palazzo Borromeo. Rising on a small island of
landscaped gardens and terraces, the Baroque palazzo has hosted countless illustrious
visitors, including Napoleon and Josephine. A tour reveals exquisite works of
art and a classic Italian garden filled with exotic plants. Depart Isola Bella
and return to Stresa to explore as you please. The remainder of the day is free
to enjoy your resort’s amenities, such as the spa, or perhaps take the tram to
the top of the mountain. Meals B
 
5.
Medieval Bergamo / On to Verona
Depart Lake
Maggiore and head for the ancient town of Bergamo, whose long history includes
nearly four centuries as part of the Venetian Republic. Explore the town’s
Città Alta (“upper city”), its walled, hilltop medieval center, with a local
guide. Visit the lovely Piazza Vecchia; the Romanesque Church of Santa Maria
Maggiore, begun in the 12th century; and the adjacent Cappella Colleoni, a
colorful masterpiece of Renaissance architecture. Continue on to an agriturismo
in Brescia for a wine tasting and lunch. Arrive late afternoon in storied
Verona, where you’ll spend the next two nights at the Due Torri Hotel Baglioni,
just a stone’s throw away from the famed balcony that inspired Shakespeare’s
tragic tale of Romeo and Juliet. Dine in the hotel this evening. Meals BLD
 
6.
Verona, Home of “Romeo and Juliet”
A guided
walking tour of Verona reveals that this city is second only to Rome in its
number of Roman ruins. Pastel villas, built from rosso di Verona, the local pink limestone, line the
cobbled streets – and Romeo and Juliet played out their illicit affair here. But besides its
romantic history, the city is celebrated for its outstanding wine and cuisine.
Spend the rest of the afternoon and evening as you please. Meals B
 
7. Mantua
and Spilamberto 
Mantua
(Mantova), a city of imposing Gothic architecture, bounded on three sides by
lakes, is the birthplace of the poet Virgil and the setting for Verdi’s Rigoletto. Your tour includes the Palazzo
Ducale, and the Castello San Giorgio, a 14th-century fortress that houses an
outstanding art collection. After lunch, drive to the Spilamberto, famous for
the balsamic vinegar that is produced only in this area. A tour of Museo del
Balsamico Tradizionale di Spilamberto reveals the art of balsamic vinegar
making – an elaborate process of rendering grapes and decanting must into wooden barrels. Your visit is
both eye-opening and memorable, as is the sampling of this aromatic staple of
gourmet cooking! Journey on to the celebrated university city of Bologna, where
food, fashion and culture reign supreme. Meals BLD
 
8.
Epicurean Delights in Bologna 
Enjoy a
guided walking tour of the elegant center of Bologna, where palaces cluster in
the shade of two colossal medieval towers. The afternoon is yours to explore on
your own. Discover why the city’s nickname is La Grassa (the Fat One); gastronomic
opportunities abound in this gourmet capital! A cooking class by a master chef
will show you some secrets, followed by a memorable dinner. Meals BD
 
9.
Legendary Venice
Your
destination today is Venice, northern Italy’s famed Renaissance city of canals,
for a two-night stay. Your renowned hotel, the Hotel Gritti Palace, Venice, is
set on the Grand Canal with remarkable views; built in 1525, it is the epitome
of elegance and gracious service, annually making numerous “best” European
hotel lists. Walk to Piazza San Marco for a guided tour, where you’ll get an
insider’s view; St. Mark’s Basilica features exquisite mosaics and carvings.
You will also visit the Doges’ Palace, official residence of Venetian rulers in
the Middle Ages. Nothing compares to a serenade on a gondola ride along the
canals; it is something you expect to do in Venice, yet it will tug at your
heartstrings long after your return home. Meals BL
 
10.
Venetian Delights
Venice is
art itself, in all its passion, eccentricity, and poignancy; its streets are a
maze of canals arched by bridges and lined with magnificent palazzi. Spend the entire day exploring on
your own before returning to the hotel for a farewell cocktail reception and
dinner. Meals BD
 
11.
Journey Home
Tour ends: Venice, Italy. Fly home anytime. A transfer from Hotel Gritti Palace, Venice to Venice
Marco Polo Airport is included. You should allow 2 1/2 hours for flight
check-in at the airport. Meals B
]]>
  </itinerary>
  <itineraryDetails>
    <itineraryDay day="1">
  <title>Arrive Milan</title>
  <description>Tour begins: 6:00 PM at Grand Hotel et de Milan. A transfer is included from Milan Malpensa Airport to Grand Hotel et de Milan. At once you’ll feel the vibrancy of this cosmopolitan city that synergizes ancient and modern cultures in its art, fashion, and cuisine, set in the gorgeous lake region of Lombardy. A welcome cocktail reception this evening is followed by dinner.</description>
  <overnight>Grand Hotel et de Milan, Italy</overnight>
  <meals>Dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="2">
  <title>Milan: City of Fashion and Art</title>
  <description>On a tour with a local guide, stand in awe of The Last Supper, painted by Leonardo da Vinci on a wall of the 15th-century convent, Santa Maria delle Grazie. The quiet power of this legendary fresco reverberates through centuries of western culture. Continue from its humble setting to the gilded halls of Castello Sforzesco, the power center of Milan for generations. Tour the Duomo, one of the largest Gothic cathedrals in the world; bristling with spires, it is adorned with a staggering display of statues, gargoyles and stained glass. A more recent architectural wonder is the Galleria, a vast 19th-century shopping arcade whose massive glass dome shelters brilliant mosaics, stylish shops and cafés. Take a walking tour of the city center; after lunch on your own, visit the Pinacoteca di Brera, housing one of the world’s greatest collections of Italian art, including works by Raphael, Caravaggio, Bellini and Tintoretto. Enjoy dinner on your own tonight; your hotel is across the street from one of Milan’s most elegant streets, famed Via Napoleone.</description>
  <overnight>Grand Hotel et de Milan, Italy</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="3">
  <title>Beautiful Lake Como and Bellagio</title>
  <description>Lake Como is the most beguiling of Italian lakes, sought after by aristocrats and film stars for its lush green islands, luscious villas, and the stunning Alps as a backdrop. Travel to Tremezzo to visit the 17th-century Villa Carlotta, called “a place of heaven,” set on acres of landscaped gardens. Take a private cruise to Bellagio, a resort town on the tip of a slender peninsula with spectacular views of the lake and mountains. Glimpse some of Lake Como’s famed villas on your way to your opulent hotel in Stresa, nestled in a park-like setting on the shores of Lake Maggiore, for a two-night stay; built in 1861, it evokes the grandeur and romance that personified the Belle Époque era.</description>
  <overnight>Grand Hotel des Iles Borromées, Lake Maggiore, Italy</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="4">
  <title>Lake Maggiore and Isola Bella</title>
  <description>Long and languorous, Lake Maggiore, with its secluded villas and lazy islands, offers a retreat from the bustle of the city. Take a boat to Isola Bella and the ancient home of the Borromeo family, Palazzo Borromeo. Rising on a small island of landscaped gardens and terraces, the Baroque palazzo has hosted countless illustrious visitors, including Napoleon and Josephine. A tour reveals exquisite works of art and a classic Italian garden filled with exotic plants. Depart Isola Bella and return to Stresa to explore as you please. The remainder of the day is free to enjoy your resort’s amenities, such as the spa, or perhaps take the tram to the top of the mountain.</description>
  <overnight>Grand Hotel des Iles Borromées, Lake Maggiore, Italy</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="5">
  <title>Medieval Bergamo / On to Verona</title>
  <description>Depart Lake Maggiore and head for the ancient town of Bergamo, whose long history includes nearly four centuries as part of the Venetian Republic. Explore the town’s Città Alta (“upper city”), its walled, hilltop medieval center, with a local guide. Visit the lovely Piazza Vecchia; the Romanesque Church of Santa Maria Maggiore, begun in the 12th century; and the adjacent Cappella Colleoni, a colorful masterpiece of Renaissance architecture. Continue on to an agriturismo in Brescia for a wine tasting and lunch. Arrive late afternoon in storied Verona, where you’ll spend the next two nights at the Due Torri Hotel Baglioni, just a stone’s throw away from the famed balcony that inspired Shakespeare’s tragic tale of Romeo and Juliet. Dine in the hotel this evening.</description>
  <overnight>Due Torri Hotel Baglioni, Verona, Italy</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="6">
  <title>Verona, Home of “Romeo and Juliet”</title>
  <description>A guided walking tour of Verona reveals that this city is second only to Rome in its number of Roman ruins. Pastel villas, built from rosso di Verona, the local pink limestone, line the cobbled streets – and Romeo and Juliet played out their illicit affair here. But besides its romantic history, the city is celebrated for its outstanding wine and cuisine. Spend the rest of the afternoon and evening as you please.</description>
  <overnight>Due Torri Hotel Baglioni, Verona, Italy</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="7">
  <title>Mantua and Spilamberto</title>
  <description>Mantua (Mantova), a city of imposing Gothic architecture, bounded on three sides by lakes, is the birthplace of the poet Virgil and the setting for Verdi’s Rigoletto. Your tour includes the Palazzo Ducale, and the Castello San Giorgio, a 14th-century fortress that houses an outstanding art collection. After lunch, drive to the Spilamberto, famous for the balsamic vinegar that is produced only in this area. A tour of Museo del Balsamico Tradizionale di Spilamberto reveals the art of balsamic vinegar making – an elaborate process of rendering grapes and decanting must into wooden barrels. Your visit is both eye-opening and memorable, as is the sampling of this aromatic staple of gourmet cooking! Journey on to the celebrated university city of Bologna, where food, fashion and culture reign supreme.</description>
  <overnight>Grand Hotel Baglioni, Bologna, Italy</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="8">
  <title>Epicurean Delights in Bologna </title>
  <description>Enjoy a guided walking tour of the elegant center of Bologna, where palaces cluster in the shade of two colossal medieval towers. The afternoon is yours to explore on your own. Discover why the city’s nickname is La Grassa (the Fat One); gastronomic opportunities abound in this gourmet capital! A cooking class by a master chef will show you some secrets, followed by a memorable dinner.</description>
  <overnight>Grand Hotel Baglioni, Bologna, Italy</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="9">
  <title>Legendary Venice</title>
  <description>Your destination today is Venice, northern Italy’s famed Renaissance city of canals, for a two-night stay. Your renowned hotel, the Hotel Gritti Palace, Venice, is set on the Grand Canal with remarkable views; built in 1525, it is the epitome of elegance and gracious service, annually making numerous “best” European hotel lists. Walk to Piazza San Marco for a guided tour, where you’ll get an insider’s view; St. Mark’s Basilica features exquisite mosaics and carvings. You will also visit the Doges’ Palace, official residence of Venetian rulers in the Middle Ages. Nothing compares to a serenade on a gondola ride along the canals; it is something you expect to do in Venice, yet it will tug at your heartstrings long after your return home.</description>
  <overnight>Hotel Gritti Palace, Venice, Italy</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="10">
  <title>Venetian Delights</title>
  <description>Venice is art itself, in all its passion, eccentricity, and poignancy; its streets are a maze of canals arched by bridges and lined with magnificent palazzi. Spend the entire day exploring on your own before returning to the hotel for a farewell cocktail reception and dinner.</description>
  <overnight>Hotel Gritti Palace, Venice, Italy</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="11">
  <title>Journey Home</title>
  <description>Tour ends: Venice, Italy. Fly home anytime. A transfer from Hotel Gritti Palace, Venice to Venice Marco Polo Airport is included. You should allow 2 1/2 hours for flight check-in at the airport.</description>
  <overnight></overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast</meals>
</itineraryDay>
  </itineraryDetails>
  <highlights>		
Milan ~ Lake Como ~ Lake Maggiore ~ Verona ~ Mantua ~ Bologna ~ Venice 
</highlights>
  <tauckValues>
    <value order="1">TAUCKS YELLOW ROADS! A picture-postcard setting awaits along every turn, dip and bend of Taucks winding Yellow Roads through the beautiful Italian Lakes region  tranquility perfected</value><value order="2">A cooking class in Bologna, the food capital of Italy, boasting an epicurean delight for every palate; learn the secrets of its cuisine from a master chef and enjoy a memorable dinner</value><value order="3">Discover the centuries-old art of producing balsamic vinegar, a northern Italy specialty, on an extraordinary tour that includes a tasting</value><value order="4">A visit to an agriturismo for a wine tasting and lunch in the beautiful Franciacorta region</value><value order="5">Airport transfers upon arrival and departure</value><value order="6">19 meals (10 breakfasts, 3 lunches &amp; 6 dinners), service charges, gratuities to local guides, admission fees, taxes and porterage</value>
  </tauckValues>  
  <departureDates>
    <date>
    <day>29</day>
    <month>5</month>
    <year>2010</year>
    <singlesPrice>6447</singlesPrice>
    <doublesPrice>4990</doublesPrice>
    <triplesPrice>4710</triplesPrice>
    <quadsPrice>0</quadsPrice>
    
  </date>
  <date>
    <day>5</day>
    <month>6</month>
    <year>2010</year>
    <singlesPrice>6447</singlesPrice>
    <doublesPrice>4990</doublesPrice>
    <triplesPrice>4710</triplesPrice>
    <quadsPrice>0</quadsPrice>
    
  </date>
  <date>
    <day>12</day>
    <month>6</month>
    <year>2010</year>
    <singlesPrice>6447</singlesPrice>
    <doublesPrice>4990</doublesPrice>
    <triplesPrice>4710</triplesPrice>
    <quadsPrice>0</quadsPrice>
    
  </date>
  <date>
    <day>19</day>
    <month>6</month>
    <year>2010</year>
    <singlesPrice>6447</singlesPrice>
    <doublesPrice>4990</doublesPrice>
    <triplesPrice>4710</triplesPrice>
    <quadsPrice>0</quadsPrice>
    
  </date>
  <date>
    <day>26</day>
    <month>6</month>
    <year>2010</year>
    <singlesPrice>6447</singlesPrice>
    <doublesPrice>4990</doublesPrice>
    <triplesPrice>4710</triplesPrice>
    <quadsPrice>0</quadsPrice>
    
  </date>
  <date>
    <day>7</day>
    <month>8</month>
    <year>2010</year>
    <singlesPrice>6122</singlesPrice>
    <doublesPrice>4990</doublesPrice>
    <triplesPrice>4710</triplesPrice>
    <quadsPrice>0</quadsPrice>
    
  </date>
  <date>
    <day>21</day>
    <month>8</month>
    <year>2010</year>
    <singlesPrice>6447</singlesPrice>
    <doublesPrice>4990</doublesPrice>
    <triplesPrice>4710</triplesPrice>
    <quadsPrice>0</quadsPrice>
    
  </date>
  <date>
    <day>6</day>
    <month>9</month>
    <year>2010</year>
    <singlesPrice>6447</singlesPrice>
    <doublesPrice>4990</doublesPrice>
    <triplesPrice>4710</triplesPrice>
    <quadsPrice>0</quadsPrice>
    
  </date>
  <date>
    <day>25</day>
    <month>9</month>
    <year>2010</year>
    <singlesPrice>6447</singlesPrice>
    <doublesPrice>4990</doublesPrice>
    <triplesPrice>4710</triplesPrice>
    <quadsPrice>0</quadsPrice>
    
  </date>
  <date>
    <day>2</day>
    <month>10</month>
    <year>2010</year>
    <singlesPrice>6447</singlesPrice>
    <doublesPrice>4990</doublesPrice>
    <triplesPrice>4710</triplesPrice>
    <quadsPrice>0</quadsPrice>
    
  </date>
  <date>
    <day>9</day>
    <month>10</month>
    <year>2010</year>
    <singlesPrice>6447</singlesPrice>
    <doublesPrice>4990</doublesPrice>
    <triplesPrice>4710</triplesPrice>
    <quadsPrice>0</quadsPrice>
    
  </date>
  <date>
    <day>16</day>
    <month>10</month>
    <year>2010</year>
    <singlesPrice>6122</singlesPrice>
    <doublesPrice>4990</doublesPrice>
    <triplesPrice>4710</triplesPrice>
    <quadsPrice>0</quadsPrice>
    
  </date>

</departureDates>

</tour><tour>
  <sourceId>IR2010</sourceId>
  <title>The Best of Ireland</title>
  <summary>
    <![CDATA[Experience some of the world&apos;s best-loved hotels on this Ireland tour with stays at Dromoland Castle, Mount Juliet Conrad and Ashford Castle, as well as travels to Dublin, County Donegal, Waterford, Killarney and the Ring of Kerry. Select Small Group departure dates available with no more than 26 Tauck guests!
]]>
  </summary>
  <description>
    <![CDATA[The Emerald Isle bids you a hundred thousand welcomes on Tauck&apos;s comprehensive Ireland tour. Splendid scenery, fascinating history, a vibrant culture and warm, hospitable people all contribute to the great charm of Ireland. Enjoy stays in two castle hotels, have lunch with a farm family at a working dairy farm, visit Blarney Castle and the Waterford Crystal visitors center. Experience the sophistication of Dublin and the peaceful ambiance of small villages. Have a memorable night at The Irish House Party, and find out what it&apos;s like to stay in a castle... two castles! Tauck&apos;s comprehensive Ireland tour is certain to be one of your most memorable travel experiences.
]]>
  </description>
  <link>http://www.tauck.com/tours/europe-tours/great-britain-and-ireland-tours/ireland-tour-ir-2010</link>
  <durationDays>13</durationDays>
  <durationDetails>13 days and 12 nights.</durationDetails>
  <tripType>ESCORTED_TOUR</tripType>
  <brand>TWD</brand>
  <subbrand>Europe</subbrand>
  <gradeRating>ALL_AGES</gradeRating>
  <comfortRating>COMFORTABLE_MIXED</comfortRating>
  <startingLocation>Shannon, Ireland</startingLocation>
  <prices>
    <price currency="USD">4990</price>
    <priceDetails><![CDATA[All prices are per person in U.S. dollars. ]]></priceDetails>
  </prices>
  <images>
    <image isMain="true">http://tools.tauck.com/Files/ItineraryImages/ListImages/img_IR2010_list.jpg</image>
    <image>http://tools.tauck.com/Files/ItineraryImages/altImages/IR2010_alt1.jpg</image>
    <image>http://tools.tauck.com/Files/ItineraryImages/altImages/IR2010_alt2.jpg</image>
    <image>http://tools.tauck.com/Files/ItineraryImages/altImages/IR2010_alt3.jpg</image>
    <image isMap="true">http://tools.tauck.com/Files/ItineraryImages/MapImages/map_IR2010.jpg</image>
  </images>
  <itinerary>
    <![CDATA[
		
				Select
departures of The Best of Ireland 
		
		
				feature three days in Northern Ireland (days 4, 5
and 6), instead of County Donegal; ask at time of booking or see The Best of
Ireland featuring Northern Ireland
		
		
				.
		
1. Arrive
Shannon / Ennis
Tour
begins: 6:00 PM, Old Ground Hotel. A transfer is included from Shannon Airport to the Old
Ground Hotel in the charming village of Ennis. Join us for a welcome reception
and dinner tonight. Meals D
 
2. Cliffs
of Moher / Ashford Castle
Travel with
us to the mighty Cliffs of Moher, where towering, sheer head-land plummets into
the Atlantic Ocean. Continue on along scenic Yellow Roads through the Burren, among the
eeriest country landscapes in Ireland, to Ashford Castle for a two-night stay.
Located on a 350-acre private estate along the shores of Loch Corrib, it is
consistently ranked as one of the finest hotels in the world and is sure to be
a treasured highlight of your trip to the Emerald Isle. Meals BLD
 
3.
Connemara / Kylemore Abbey
Drive
through Connemara, a rugged region whose diverse scenery includes windswept
mountains, bogland, sparkling lakes and the dramatic Atlantic coastline. See a
Gothic Revival lakeside castle, magnificent Kylemore Abbey on the shores of
Kylemore Lough. A Benedictine abbey in World War I, it is now a girls’ boarding
school. Return to Ashford Castle, where the remainder of the day is free; dine
à la carte tonight in one of the castle’s celebrated restaurants. Meals BLD
 
4. County
Sligo / Donegal Bay
Travel to
Sligo today, the largest town in the northwest of Ireland. Enjoy time at
leisure in Sligo, the Land of Heart’s Desire as it is described by W. B. Yeats.
Visit Yeats’ final resting place at Drumcliffe, beneath legendary Ben Bulben.
Spend the next two nights in the Donegal countryside at a hotel on the shores
of Lough Eske voted AA Ireland’s 2007 / 2008 “Hotel of the Year.” Meals BD
 
5. County
Donegal
Donegal
regales the visitor with its incredible scenery and the charm of its people.
Meander today along the fringe of Donegal Bay, where you will wind, dip and
weave your way along the coast through Killybegs, one of Ireland’s major
fishing ports; as the country road narrows, the farms and grazing lands look as
if they sprang from artists’ imaginations. Locals in the villages want you to
linger; we wish you good weather today! Meals BLD
 
6.
Journey to Dublin
Depart
County Donegal this morning for travels across the Republic of Ireland to
Dublin; en route, see the rich emerald-green landscapes the island is famous
for, as well as bucolic fields of grazing cattle, sheep, abandoned abbeys and
castles reflecting a bygone era. Arrive in Dublin, where the afternoon is free
to explore. Tonight you’ll experience one of Ireland’s enduring traditions – an
evening of traditional Irish music and Irish dancing. The Irish House Party takes place in the private parlor
room of a family-owned Georgian building in the literary quarter. You’ll be
treated to dinner and an evening that will both entertain and educate with
stories about Dublin’s unique characters, traditional music by leading
musicians, and dance. Meals BD
 
7.
Sightsee Dublin 
Visit
Trinity College, steeped in tradition and home to the Book of Kells, and 13th-century Dublin Castle,
standing in the historic heart of the city. The afternoon and evening are yours
to experience a bit of Dublin life. Your hotel, The Westin Dublin, is located
in the heart of the city, close to Grafton Street and Nassau Street. Stroll
down city streets lined with 21/2-story brick Georgian row houses, famous for
their intricate, glass-laced doorways, and wander through some of Ireland’s
beautiful parks, including St. Stephen’s Green. Nightlife in Dublin entices
with traditional music and popular pubs, from the trendy Temple Bar area to
traditional pubs not far from your hotel. Meals B
 
8.
Powerscourt Gardens / Kilkenny
The Wicklow
Mountains lie south of Dublin, a blend of peaks, forests, streams and verdant
valleys. Travel to Powerscourt for a visit to lovely gardens that are
considered to be among the best in Ireland; set at the foot of Great Sugar Loaf
Mountain, their design dates back to the 19th century. Stop in the picturesque
medieval city of Kilkenny, world-renowned as a center for craft and design, en
route to your hotel. Meals BD
 
9.
Waterford / Cobh / Cork
Stop in at
the Waterford Crystal visitors centre for a look at Ireland’s famed glassware
before a visit to the Old Jameson Distillery for a guided tour and tasting.
Travel to scenic Cobh, a historic port that has played an important role in
maritime history. Over 2.5 million people have emigrated from Ireland via Cobh;
Sirius, the first
steamship to cross the Atlantic Ocean, departed from the harbor in 1838; Cobh
was the last port of call for the ill-fated Titanic in 1912; and, in World War I, the
ocean liner Lusitania was torpedoed and sunk very near Cobh. Visit the Cobh Heritage Center
where exhibits detail these, and other, events. You’ll spend the night at
Hayfield Manor, an elegant country manor house in Cork; set within two acres of
mature gardens, the manor has won numerous awards for its cuisine. Meals BD
 
10.
Blarney / Kenmare 
Journey to
15th-century Blarney Castle to see the famous Blarney Stone; legend has it that
if you kiss the stone, you will be blessed with the gift of the gab. Travel to County Kerry and Kenmare,
a historic small town on the site where the Finnihy, Roughty and Sheen rivers
converge into the Kenmare River. Then it’s on to Killarney and a visit to
Muckross House, an Elizabethan-style mansion which was built in 1843. Set in
Killarney National Park, the estate features distinguished 19th-century
interiors; it is surrounded by magnificent gardens in a palette of sensational
colors. Your accommodations for the next two nights are at the Aghadoe Heights
Hotel &amp; Spa, one of Ireland’s most luxurious five-star hotels. Overlooking
the Lakes of Killarney, the hotel exudes the warmth of a country home – and
every Tauck guest room gazes out upon Killarney’s majestic landscapes. Meals
BD
 
11. The
Ring of Kerry / Killarney
Explore the
ruggedly beautiful countryside on a drive along the Ring of Kerry, a 100-mile
circle around the Iveragh peninsula – arguably Ireland’s most popular scenic
drive. The fascinating landscapes change from the rugged beauty of the wild
Irish coast to the tranquility of lakes, passing through charming towns such as
Cahirciveen and Waterville. For centuries, poets, painters and writers have
been inspired by the glens, mountains and shoreline along this stunning drive.
Journey through Molls Gap and Ladies View for a most spectacular look at Killarney’s
lakes before arriving back in Killarney late in the afternoon. Dine à la carte
at your leisure in the hotel’s fabulous restaurant. Meals BLD
 
12. Dairy
Farm / Dromoland Castle
Discover the
importance of farming in the west of Ireland on a visit to a working dairy
farm, which has been in the same family for generations; enjoy a light Irish
lunch at the farm. The last leg of our Irish adventure takes you to Dromoland
Castle for a memorable stay. Steeped in luxury and boasting impeccable service,
it is one of the few castle hotels that can trace its ownership back through
history to Gaelic Irish families of royal heritage. Join us this evening for a
farewell cocktail reception and dinner. Meals BLD
 
13.
Journey Home
Tour ends: Dromoland Castle. Fly home anytime. A transfer is included from Dromoland Castle to
Shannon Airport. Allow a minimum of 2 1/2 hours for flight check in at the
airport. Meals B
]]>
  </itinerary>
  <itineraryDetails>
    <itineraryDay day="1">
  <title>Arrive Shannon / Ennis</title>
  <description>Tour begins: 6:00 PM, Old Ground Hotel. A transfer is included from Shannon Airport to the Old Ground Hotel in the charming village of Ennis. Join us for a welcome reception and dinner tonight.</description>
  <overnight>Old Ground Hotel, Ennis, Ireland</overnight>
  <meals>Dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="2">
  <title>Cliffs of Moher / Ashford Castle</title>
  <description>Travel with us to the mighty Cliffs of Moher, where towering, sheer head-land plummets into the Atlantic Ocean. Continue on along scenic Yellow Roads through the Burren, among the eeriest country landscapes in Ireland, to Ashford Castle for a two-night stay. Located on a 350-acre private estate along the shores of Loch Corrib, it is consistently ranked as one of the finest hotels in the world and is sure to be a treasured highlight of your trip to the Emerald Isle.</description>
  <overnight>Ashford Castle, Cong, Ireland</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="3">
  <title>Connemara / Kylemore Abbey</title>
  <description>Drive through Connemara, a rugged region whose diverse scenery includes windswept mountains, bogland, sparkling lakes and the dramatic Atlantic coastline. See a Gothic Revival lakeside castle, magnificent Kylemore Abbey on the shores of Kylemore Lough. A Benedictine abbey in World War I, it is now a girls’ boarding school. Return to Ashford Castle, where the remainder of the day is free; dine à la carte tonight in one of the castle’s celebrated restaurants.</description>
  <overnight>Ashford Castle, Cong, Ireland</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner </meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="4">
  <title>County Sligo / Donegal Bay</title>
  <description>Travel to Sligo today, the largest town in the northwest of Ireland. Enjoy time at leisure in Sligo, the Land of Heart’s Desire as it is described by W. B. Yeats. Visit Yeats’ final resting place at Drumcliffe, beneath legendary Ben Bulben. Spend the next two nights in the Donegal countryside at a hotel on the shores of Lough Eske voted AA Ireland’s 2007 / 2008 “Hotel of the Year.”</description>
  <overnight>Harvey&apos;s Point Country Hotel, Donegal Town, Ireland</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="5">
  <title>County Donegal</title>
  <description>Donegal regales the visitor with its incredible scenery and the charm of its people. Meander today along the fringe of Donegal Bay, where you will wind, dip and weave your way along the coast through Killybegs, one of Ireland’s major fishing ports; as the country road narrows, the farms and grazing lands look as if they sprang from artists’ imaginations. Locals in the villages want you to linger; we wish you good weather today!</description>
  <overnight>Harvey&apos;s Point Country Hotel, Donegal Town, Ireland</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="6">
  <title>Journey to Dublin</title>
  <description>Depart County Donegal this morning for travels across the Republic of Ireland to Dublin; en route, see the rich emerald-green landscapes the island is famous for, as well as bucolic fields of grazing cattle, sheep, abandoned abbeys and castles reflecting a bygone era. Arrive in Dublin, where the afternoon is free to explore. Tonight you’ll experience one of Ireland’s enduring traditions – an evening of traditional Irish music and Irish dancing. The Irish House Party takes place in the private parlor room of a family-owned Georgian building in the literary quarter. You’ll be treated to dinner and an evening that will both entertain and educate with stories about Dublin’s unique characters, traditional music by leading musicians, and dance.Depart</description>
  <overnight>The Westin Dublin, Ireland</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="7">
  <title>Sightsee Dublin </title>
  <description>Visit Trinity College, steeped in tradition and home to the Book of Kells, and 13th-century Dublin Castle, standing in the historic heart of the city. The afternoon and evening are yours to experience a bit of Dublin life. Your hotel, The Westin Dublin, is located in the heart of the city, close to Grafton Street and Nassau Street. Stroll down city streets lined with 21/2-story brick Georgian row houses, famous for their intricate, glass-laced doorways, and wander through some of Ireland’s beautiful parks, including St. Stephen’s Green. Nightlife in Dublin entices with traditional music and popular pubs, from the trendy Temple Bar area to traditional pubs not far from your hotel.Visit</description>
  <overnight>The Westin Dublin, Ireland</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="8">
  <title>Powerscourt Gardens / Kilkenny</title>
  <description>The Wicklow Mountains lie south of Dublin, a blend of peaks, forests, streams and verdant valleys. Travel to Powerscourt for a visit to lovely gardens that are considered to be among the best in Ireland; set at the foot of Great Sugar Loaf Mountain, their design dates back to the 19th century. Stop in the picturesque medieval city of Kilkenny, world-renowned as a center for craft and design, en route to your hotel.</description>
  <overnight>Mount Juliet Conrad, Thomastown, Ireland</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="9">
  <title>Waterford / Cobh / Cork</title>
  <description>Stop in at the Waterford Crystal visitors centre for a look at Ireland’s famed glassware before a visit to the Old Jameson Distillery for a guided tour and tasting. Travel to scenic Cobh, a historic port that has played an important role in maritime history. Over 2.5 million people have emigrated from Ireland via Cobh; Sirius, the first steamship to cross the Atlantic Ocean, departed from the harbor in 1838; Cobh was the last port of call for the ill-fated Titanic in 1912; and, in World War I, the ocean liner Lusitania was torpedoed and sunk very near Cobh. Visit the Cobh Heritage Center where exhibits detail these, and other, events. You’ll spend the night at Hayfield Manor, an elegant country manor house in Cork; set within two acres of mature gardens, the manor has won numerous awards for its cuisine.</description>
  <overnight>Hayfield Manor Hotel, Cork, Ireland</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="10">
  <title>Blarney / Kenmare </title>
  <description>Journey to 15th-century Blarney Castle to see the famous Blarney Stone; legend has it that if you kiss the stone, you will be blessed with the gift of the gab. Travel to County Kerry and Kenmare, a historic small town on the site where the Finnihy, Roughty and Sheen rivers converge into the Kenmare River. Then it’s on to Killarney and a visit to Muckross House, an Elizabethan-style mansion which was built in 1843. Set in Killarney National Park, the estate features distinguished 19th-century interiors; it is surrounded by magnificent gardens in a palette of sensational colors. Your accommodations for the next two nights are at the Aghadoe Heights Hotel &amp;amp; Spa, one of Ireland’s most luxurious five-star hotels. Overlooking the Lakes of Killarney, the hotel exudes the warmth of a country home – and every Tauck guest room gazes out upon Killarney’s majestic landscapes.</description>
  <overnight>Aghadoe Heights Hotel &amp; Spa, Killarney, Ireland</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="11">
  <title>The Ring of Kerry / Killarney</title>
  <description>Explore the ruggedly beautiful countryside on a drive along the Ring of Kerry, a 100-mile circle around the Iveragh peninsula – arguably Ireland’s most popular scenic drive. The fascinating landscapes change from the rugged beauty of the wild Irish coast to the tranquility of lakes, passing through charming towns such as Cahirciveen and Waterville. For centuries, poets, painters and writers have been inspired by the glens, mountains and shoreline along this stunning drive. Journey through Molls Gap and Ladies View for a most spectacular look at Killarney’s lakes before arriving back in Killarney late in the afternoon. Dine à la carte at your leisure in the hotel’s fabulous restaurant.</description>
  <overnight>Aghadoe Heights Hotel &amp; Spa, Killarney, Ireland</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="12">
  <title>Dairy Farm / Dromoland Castle</title>
  <description>Discover the importance of farming in the west of Ireland on a visit to a working dairy farm, which has been in the same family for generations; enjoy a light Irish lunch at the farm. The last leg of our Irish adventure takes you to Dromoland Castle for a memorable stay. Steeped in luxury and boasting impeccable service, it is one of the few castle hotels that can trace its ownership back through history to Gaelic Irish families of royal heritage. Join us this evening for a farewell cocktail reception and dinner.</description>
  <overnight>Dromoland Castle, Newmarket-on-Fergus, Ireland</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="13">
  <title>Journey Home</title>
  <description>Tour ends: Dromoland Castle. Fly home anytime. A transfer is included from Dromoland Castle to Shannon Airport. Allow a minimum of 2 1/2 hours for flight check in at the airport.</description>
  <overnight></overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast</meals>
</itineraryDay>
  </itineraryDetails>
  <highlights>		
Connemara ~ Cork ~ Waterford ~ Dublin ~ Killarney ~ Ring of Kerry ~ Donegal ~ Kenmare 

</highlights>
  <tauckValues>
    <value order="1">TAUCKS YELLOW ROADS! Journey through the Burren to Ashford Castle, follow the Ring of Kerry and get an up-close look at some of the worlds most spectacular coastal scenery in County Donegal or Northern?Ireland</value><value order="2">Accommodations at two of the worlds finest castle hotels, majestic Ashford and Dromoland Castles</value><value order="3">An enriching visit to Powerscourt, one of the most beautiful gardens in Ireland</value><value order="4">Lunch at a private dairy farm for an authentic taste of daily life in the Irish countryside</value><value order="5">An evening of traditional Irish music and dance (and dinner) in Dublin at The Irish House Party, held in the private parlor room of a family-owned Georgian building</value><value order="6">Airport transfers, arrival and departure as noted</value><value order="7">28 meals (12 breakfasts, 5 lunches, 11 dinners), service charges, gratuities to local guides, admission fees, taxes and porterage</value>
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</tour><tour>
  <sourceId>IRN2010</sourceId>
  <title>The Best of Ireland Featuring Northern Ireland</title>
  <summary>
    <![CDATA[Experience some of the world&apos;s best-loved castle hotels on this Ireland tour including Northern Ireland travel; visit Derry, Giants Causeway, Belfast, Dublin, the Cliffs of Moher, Killarney, Waterford and the Ring of Kerry.
]]>
  </summary>
  <description>
    <![CDATA[The Emerald Isle bids you a hundred thousand welcomes on this comprehensive tour including Northern Ireland travel. Splendid scenery, fascinating history, a vibrant culture and warm, hospitable people all contribute to the great charm of Ireland. Enjoy stays in two castle hotels and visit farms, a historic whiskey distillery, a folk park and the fabled Giants Causeway. Experience the sophistication of Dublin and Belfast, and the peaceful ambiance of small villages. Have a pint with friendly locals at a lively pub. All that is best about Ireland is yours to enjoy on this memorable journey.
]]>
  </description>
  <link>http://www.tauck.com/tours/europe-tours/great-britain-and-ireland-tours/northern-ireland-travel-irn-2010</link>
  <durationDays>13</durationDays>
  <durationDetails>13 days and 12 nights.</durationDetails>
  <tripType>ESCORTED_TOUR</tripType>
  <brand>TWD</brand>
  <subbrand>Europe</subbrand>
  <gradeRating>ALL_AGES</gradeRating>
  <comfortRating>COMFORTABLE_MIXED</comfortRating>
  <startingLocation>Shannon, Ireland</startingLocation>
  <prices>
    <price currency="USD">5190</price>
    <priceDetails><![CDATA[All prices are per person in U.S. dollars. ]]></priceDetails>
  </prices>
  <images>
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    <image isMap="true">http://tools.tauck.com/Files/ItineraryImages/MapImages/map_IRN2010.jpg</image>
  </images>
  <itinerary>
    <![CDATA[
		
				Select
departures of The Best of Ireland 
		
		
				feature three days in County Donegal (days 4, 5 and
6) instead of Northern Ireland; ask at time of booking or see The Best of
Ireland
		
		
				.
		
 
1. Arrive
Shannon / Ennis
Tour
begins: 6:00 PM, Old Ground Hotel. A transfer is included from Shannon Airport to the Old
Ground Hotel in the charming village of Ennis. Join us for a welcome reception
and dinner tonight. Meals D
 
2. Cliffs
of Moher / Ashford Castle
Travel with
us to the mighty Cliffs of Moher, where towering, sheer head-land plummets into
the Atlantic Ocean. Continue on along scenic Yellow Roads through the Burren, among the
eeriest country landscapes in Ireland, to Ashford Castle for a two-night stay.
Located on a 350-acre private estate along the shores of Loch Corrib, it is
consistently ranked as one of the finest hotels in the world and is sure to be
a treasured highlight of your trip to the Emerald Isle. Meals BLD
 
3.
Connemara / Kylemore Abbey
Drive
through Connemara, a rugged region whose diverse scenery includes windswept
mountains, bogland, sparkling lakes and the dramatic Atlantic coastline. See a
Gothic Revival lakeside castle, magnificent Kylemore Abbey on the shores of
Kylemore Lough. A Benedictine abbey in World War I, it is now a girls’ boarding
school. Return to Ashford Castle, where the remainder of the day is free; dine
à la carte tonight in one of the castle’s celebrated restaurants. Meals BLD
 
4. County
Sligo / Lough Erne / Folk Park
Travel to
Sligo today, the largest town in the northwest of Ireland. Enjoy time at
leisure in Sligo, the Land of Heart’s Desire as it is described by W. B. Yeats.
Visit Yeats’ final resting place at Drumcliffe, beneath legendary Ben Bulben,
and  continue on to Enniskillen in
County Fermanagh. Visit the Ulster American Folk Park to discover the story of
emigration from Ulster to America in the 18th and 19th centuries,
and spend the next two nights at a waterside five-star resort in the beautiful
Fermanagh Lakelands. Meals BLD
 
5. Giants
Cause / Derry
Drive the
famed Causeway Coast to see iconic sights such as the Gians Causeway and
Dunluce Castle. Have lunch at the award-winning Bushmills Inn, and continue on
to Derry for a guided walk along the 17th-century walls. Dinner is
at leisure at your resort this evening. Meals BLD
 
6.
Belfast / Journey to Dublin
Take a
guided tour of Belfast, followed by some free time to explore the city as you
please. Depart for Dublin; en route, see the rich emerald-green landscapes the
island is famous for, as well as bucolic fields of grazing cattle, sheep,
abandoned abbeys and castles reflecting a bygone era. Arrive in Dublin, where
the afternoon is free to explore. Tonight you’ll experience one of Ireland’s
enduring traditions – an evening of traditional Irish music and Irish dancing. The
Irish House Party
takes place in the private parlor room of a family-owned Georgian building in
the literary quarter. You’ll be treated to dinner and an evening that will both
entertain and educate with stories about Dublin’s unique characters,
traditional music by leading musicians, and dance. Meals BD
 
7.
Sightsee Dublin 
Visit
Trinity College, steeped in tradition and home to the Book of Kells, and 13th-century Dublin Castle,
standing in the historic heart of the city. The afternoon and evening are yours
to experience a bit of Dublin life. Your hotel, The Westin Dublin, is located
in the heart of the city, close to Grafton Street and Nassau Street. Stroll
down city streets lined with 21/2-story brick Georgian row houses, famous for
their intricate, glass-laced doorways, and wander through some of Ireland’s
beautiful parks, including St. Stephen’s Green. Nightlife in Dublin entices
with traditional music and popular pubs, from the trendy Temple Bar area to
traditional pubs not far from your hotel. Meals B
 
8.
Powerscourt Gardens / Kilkenny
The Wicklow
Mountains lie south of Dublin, a blend of peaks, forests, streams and verdant
valleys. Travel to Powerscourt for a visit to lovely gardens that are
considered to be among the best in Ireland; set at the foot of Great Sugar Loaf
Mountain, their design dates back to the 19th century. Stop in the picturesque
medieval city of Kilkenny, world-renowned as a center for craft and design, en
route to your hotel. Meals BD
 
9.
Waterford / Cobh / Cork
Stop in at
the Waterford Crystal visitors centre for a look at Ireland’s famed glassware
before a visit to the Old Jameson Distillery for a guided tour and tasting.
Travel to scenic Cobh, a historic port that has played an important role in
maritime history. Over 2.5 million people have emigrated from Ireland via Cobh;
Sirius, the first
steamship to cross the Atlantic Ocean, departed from the harbor in 1838; Cobh
was the last port of call for the ill-fated Titanic in 1912; and, in World War I, the
ocean liner Lusitania was torpedoed and sunk very near Cobh. Visit the Cobh Heritage Center
where exhibits detail these, and other, events. You’ll spend the night at
Hayfield Manor, an elegant country manor house in Cork; set within two acres of
mature gardens, the manor has won numerous awards for its cuisine. Meals BD
 
10.
Blarney / Kenmare 
Journey to
15th-century Blarney Castle to see the famous Blarney Stone; legend has it that
if you kiss the stone, you will be blessed with the gift of the gab. Travel to County Kerry and Kenmare,
a historic small town on the site where the Finnihy, Roughty and Sheen rivers
converge into the Kenmare River. Then it’s on to Killarney and a visit to
Muckross House, an Elizabethan-style mansion which was built in 1843. Set in
Killarney National Park, the estate features distinguished 19th-century
interiors; it is surrounded by magnificent gardens in a palette of sensational
colors. Your accommodations for the next two nights are at the Aghadoe Heights
Hotel &amp; Spa, one of Ireland’s most luxurious five-star hotels. Overlooking
the Lakes of Killarney, the hotel exudes the warmth of a country home – and
every Tauck guest room gazes out upon Killarney’s majestic landscapes. Meals
BD
 
11. The
Ring of Kerry / Killarney
Explore the
ruggedly beautiful countryside on a drive along the Ring of Kerry, a 100-mile
circle around the Iveragh peninsula – arguably Ireland’s most popular scenic
drive. The fascinating landscapes change from the rugged beauty of the wild
Irish coast to the tranquility of lakes, passing through charming towns such as
Cahirciveen and Waterville. For centuries, poets, painters and writers have
been inspired by the glens, mountains and shoreline along this stunning drive.
Journey through Molls Gap and Ladies View for a most spectacular look at
Killarney’s lakes before arriving back in Killarney late in the afternoon. Dine
à la carte at your leisure in the hotel’s fabulous restaurant. Meals BLD
 
12. Dairy
Farm / Dromoland Castle
Discover the
importance of farming in the west of Ireland on a visit to a working dairy
farm, which has been in the same family for generations; enjoy a light Irish
lunch at the farm. The last leg of our Irish adventure takes you to Dromoland
Castle for a memorable stay. Steeped in luxury and boasting impeccable service,
it is one of the few castle hotels that can trace its ownership back through
history to Gaelic Irish families of royal heritage. Join us this evening for a
farewell cocktail reception and dinner. Meals BLD
 
13.
Journey Home
Tour ends: Dromoland Castle. Fly home anytime. A transfer is included from Dromoland Castle to
Shannon Airport. Allow a minimum of 2 1/2 hours for flight check in at the
airport. Meals B
]]>
  </itinerary>
  <itineraryDetails>
    <itineraryDay day="1">
  <title>Arrive Shannon / Ennis</title>
  <description>Tour begins: 6:00 PM, Old Ground Hotel. A transfer is included from Shannon Airport to the Old Ground Hotel in the charming village of Ennis. Join us for a welcome reception and dinner tonight.</description>
  <overnight>Old Ground Hotel, Ennis, Ireland</overnight>
  <meals>Dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="2">
  <title>Cliffs of Moher / Ashford Castle</title>
  <description>Travel with us to the mighty Cliffs of Moher, where towering, sheer head-land plummets into the Atlantic Ocean. Continue on along scenic Yellow Roads through the Burren, among the eeriest country landscapes in Ireland, to Ashford Castle for a two-night stay. Located on a 350-acre private estate along the shores of Loch Corrib, it is consistently ranked as one of the finest hotels in the world and is sure to be a treasured highlight of your trip to the Emerald Isle.</description>
  <overnight>Ashford Castle, Cong, Ireland</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="3">
  <title>Connemara / Kylemore Abbey</title>
  <description>Drive through Connemara, a rugged region whose diverse scenery includes windswept mountains, bogland, sparkling lakes and the dramatic Atlantic coastline. See a Gothic Revival lakeside castle, magnificent Kylemore Abbey on the shores of Kylemore Lough. A Benedictine abbey in World War I, it is now a girls’ boarding school. Return to Ashford Castle, where the remainder of the day is free; dine à la carte tonight in one of the castle’s celebrated restaurants.</description>
  <overnight>Ashford Castle, Cong, Ireland</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner </meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="4">
  <title>County Sligo / Lough Erne / Folk Park</title>
  <description>Travel to Sligo today, the largest town in the northwest of Ireland. Enjoy time at leisure in Sligo, the Land of Heart’s Desire as it is described by W. B. Yeats. Visit Yeats’ final resting place at Drumcliffe, beneath legendary Ben Bulben, and&amp;nbsp; continue on to Enniskillen in County Fermanagh. Visit the Ulster American Folk Park to discover the story of emigration from Ulster to America in the 18th and 19th centuries, and spend the next two nights at a waterside five-star resort in the beautiful Fermanagh Lakelands.</description>
  <overnight>Lough Erne Golf Resort, Enniskillen, Northern Ireland</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="5">
  <title>Giants Cause / Derry</title>
  <description>Drive the famed Causeway Coast to see iconic sights such as the Gians Causeway and Dunluce Castle. Have lunch at the award-winning Bushmills Inn, and continue on to Derry for a guided walk along the 17th-century walls. Dinner is at leisure at your resort this evening.</description>
  <overnight>Lough Erne Golf Resort, Enniskillen, Northern Ireland</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="6">
  <title>Belfast / Journey to Dublin</title>
  <description>Take a guided tour of Belfast, followed by some free time to explore the city as you please. Depart for Dublin; en route, see the rich emerald-green landscapes the island is famous for, as well as bucolic fields of grazing cattle, sheep, abandoned abbeys and castles reflecting a bygone era. Arrive in Dublin, where the afternoon is free to explore. Tonight you’ll experience one of Ireland’s enduring traditions – an evening of traditional Irish music and Irish dancing. The Irish House Party takes place in the private parlor room of a family-owned Georgian building in the literary quarter. You’ll be treated to dinner and an evening that will both entertain and educate with stories about Dublin’s unique characters, traditional music by leading musicians, and dance.</description>
  <overnight>The Westin Dublin, Ireland</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="7">
  <title>Sightsee Dublin </title>
  <description>Visit Trinity College, steeped in tradition and home to the Book of Kells, and 13th-century Dublin Castle, standing in the historic heart of the city. The afternoon and evening are yours to experience a bit of Dublin life. Your hotel, The Westin Dublin, is located in the heart of the city, close to Grafton Street and Nassau Street. Stroll down city streets lined with 21/2-story brick Georgian row houses, famous for their intricate, glass-laced doorways, and wander through some of Ireland’s beautiful parks, including St. Stephen’s Green. Nightlife in Dublin entices with traditional music and popular pubs, from the trendy Temple Bar area to traditional pubs not far from your hotel.</description>
  <overnight>The Westin Dublin, Ireland</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="8">
  <title>Powerscourt Gardens / Kilkenny</title>
  <description>The Wicklow Mountains lie south of Dublin, a blend of peaks, forests, streams and verdant valleys. Travel to Powerscourt for a visit to lovely gardens that are considered to be among the best in Ireland; set at the foot of Great Sugar Loaf Mountain, their design dates back to the 19th century. Stop in the picturesque medieval city of Kilkenny, world-renowned as a center for craft and design, en route to your hotel.</description>
  <overnight>Mount Juliet Conrad, Thomastown, Ireland</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="9">
  <title>Waterford / Cobh / Cork</title>
  <description>Stop in at the Waterford Crystal visitors centre for a look at Ireland’s famed glassware before a visit to the Old Jameson Distillery for a guided tour and tasting. Travel to scenic Cobh, a historic port that has played an important role in maritime history. Over 2.5 million people have emigrated from Ireland via Cobh; Sirius, the first steamship to cross the Atlantic Ocean, departed from the harbor in 1838; Cobh was the last port of call for the ill-fated Titanic in 1912; and, in World War I, the ocean liner Lusitania was torpedoed and sunk very near Cobh. Visit the Cobh Heritage Center where exhibits detail these, and other, events. You’ll spend the night at Hayfield Manor, an elegant country manor house in Cork; set within two acres of mature gardens, the manor has won numerous awards for its cuisine.</description>
  <overnight>Hayfield Manor Hotel, Cork, Ireland</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="10">
  <title>Blarney / Kenmare </title>
  <description>Journey to 15th-century Blarney Castle to see the famous Blarney Stone; legend has it that if you kiss the stone, you will be blessed with the gift of the gab. Travel to County Kerry and Kenmare, a historic small town on the site where the Finnihy, Roughty and Sheen rivers converge into the Kenmare River. Then it’s on to Killarney and a visit to Muckross House, an Elizabethan-style mansion which was built in 1843. Set in Killarney National Park, the estate features distinguished 19th-century interiors; it is surrounded by magnificent gardens in a palette of sensational colors. Your accommodations for the next two nights are at the Aghadoe Heights Hotel &amp;amp; Spa, one of Ireland’s most luxurious five-star hotels. Overlooking the Lakes of Killarney, the hotel exudes the warmth of a country home – and every Tauck guest room gazes out upon Killarney’s majestic landscapes.</description>
  <overnight>Aghadoe Heights Hotel &amp; Spa, Killarney, Ireland</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="11">
  <title>The Ring of Kerry / Killarney</title>
  <description>Explore the ruggedly beautiful countryside on a drive along the Ring of Kerry, a 100-mile circle around the Iveragh peninsula – arguably Ireland’s most popular scenic drive. The fascinating landscapes change from the rugged beauty of the wild Irish coast to the tranquility of lakes, passing through charming towns such as Cahirciveen and Waterville. For centuries, poets, painters and writers have been inspired by the glens, mountains and shoreline along this stunning drive. Journey through Molls Gap and Ladies View for a most spectacular look at Killarney’s lakes before arriving back in Killarney late in the afternoon. Dine à la carte at your leisure in the hotel’s fabulous restaurant.</description>
  <overnight>Aghadoe Heights Hotel &amp; Spa, Killarney, Ireland</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="12">
  <title>Dairy Farm / Dromoland Castle</title>
  <description>Discover the importance of farming in the west of Ireland on a visit to a working dairy farm, which has been in the same family for generations; enjoy a light Irish lunch at the farm. The last leg of our Irish adventure takes you to Dromoland Castle for a memorable stay. Steeped in luxury and boasting impeccable service, it is one of the few castle hotels that can trace its ownership back through history to Gaelic Irish families of royal heritage. Join us this evening for a farewell cocktail reception and dinner.</description>
  <overnight>Dromoland Castle, Newmarket-on-Fergus, Ireland</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="13">
  <title>Journey Home</title>
  <description>Tour ends: Dromoland Castle. Fly home anytime. A transfer is included from Dromoland Castle to Shannon Airport. Allow a minimum of 2 1/2 hours for flight check in at the airport.</description>
  <overnight></overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast</meals>
</itineraryDay>
  </itineraryDetails>
  <highlights>		
Connemara ~ Cork ~ Waterford ~ Dublin ~ Killarney ~ Ring of Kerry ~ Derry ~ Giants Causeway ~ Belfast 
</highlights>
  <tauckValues>
    <value order="1">TAUCKS YELLOW ROADS! Journey through the Burren to Ashford Castle, follow the Ring of Kerry and get an up-close look at some of the worlds most spectacular coastal scenery in County Donegal or Northern?Ireland</value><value order="2">Accommodations at two of the worlds finest castle hotels, majestic Ashford and Dromoland Castles</value><value order="3">In Northern Ireland, enriching visits to the Ulster American Folk Park, the Giants Causeway, Derry and Belfast</value><value order="4">Lunch at a private dairy farm for an authentic taste of daily life in the Irish countryside</value><value order="5">An evening of traditional Irish music and dance (and dinner) in Dublin at The Irish House Party, held in the private parlor room of a family-owned Georgian building</value><value order="6">Airport transfers, arrival and departure as noted</value><value order="7">28 meals (12 breakfasts, 5 lunches, 11 dinners), service charges, gratuities to local guides, admission fees, taxes and porterage</value>
  </tauckValues>  
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</tour><tour>
  <sourceId>IT2010</sourceId>
  <title>Classic Italy</title>
  <summary>
    <![CDATA[Tauck&apos;s top selling Italy tour – highlighted by an after-hours guided visit to the Vatican Museums and the Sistine Chapel – explores Venice, Florence, Rome, Pompeii, Tuscan hill towns, and the Amalfi Coast – total Italian immersion, with world-renowned art, architecture, preserved medieval towns, and dramatic scenery. Select Small Group departure dates available with no more than 26 Tauck guests!
]]>
  </summary>
  <description>
    <![CDATA[Discover Bella Italia on Tauck&apos;s most comprehensive Italy tour, in the country, on visits to scenic Tuscan hill towns, in centuries-old cities and countryside villages, and along the Amalfi Coast. Classic Italy is highlighted by a Tauck Exclusive – an after-hours guided visit to the Vatican Museums and the Sistine Chapel for an extraordinary look at some of the world&apos;s most magnificent art treasures, without the crowds! Experience the rich history of the Vatican and the Roman Empire. Art is the focus in the beautiful city of Florence, a Tauck Italy tour highlight. A lecture by an art historian precedes a walking tour of the city and a visit to Galleria dell&apos;Accademia. You&apos;ll also tour the magnificent Uffizi Gallery, accompanied by a local guide. Cruise by private boat along the shores of Cinque Terre villages clinging to coastal mountains, and stay at a 17th-century country house hotel in Torgiano where you&apos;ll share the secrets of great Italian cooking with an Umbrian chef. Historic sights in Pompeii, a two-night stay in magical Venice, and visits to the hill towns of Orvieto, Assisi, and San Gimignano complement a three-night stay in Rome.
]]>
  </description>
  <link>http://www.tauck.com/tours/europe-tours/italy-tours/italy-tours-it-2010</link>
  <durationDays>14</durationDays>
  <durationDetails>14 days and 13 nights.</durationDetails>
  <tripType>ESCORTED_TOUR</tripType>
  <brand>TWD</brand>
  <subbrand>Europe</subbrand>
  <gradeRating>ALL_AGES</gradeRating>
  <comfortRating>COMFORTABLE_MIXED</comfortRating>
  <startingLocation>Naples, Italy</startingLocation>
  <prices>
    <price currency="USD">5990</price>
    <priceDetails><![CDATA[All prices are per person in U.S. dollars. ]]></priceDetails>
  </prices>
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  <itinerary>
    <![CDATA[
		
				1. Arrive
Naples / Sorrento
		
Tour
begins: 6:00 PM, Grand Hotel Excelsior Vittoria. A transfer is included from Naples
International Airport to the Grand Hotel Excelsior Vittoria. Your hotel is one
of Italy’s “grand hotels,” family owned and run since it opened in 1834; it
overlooks the beautiful waters of the Bay of Naples. Join us for a welcome
cocktail reception and dinner tonight. Meals D
 
2.
Discover the Amalfi Coast
Rise early
for an unhurried drive along the Amalfi Coast, one of the most spectacular
drives in the world! Fantastic rock formations drop vertically into the sea;
sub-tropical vegetation on the hillsides, together with colorful Mediterranean
flora, create bewitching landscapes. Stop for visits in the seaside villages of
Amalfi, with its many medieval antiquities, and Ravello, known for its dramatic
villas; savor the panoramic views of the coast and sea. Return to Sorrento in
the afternoon to explore its charming piazzas and small alleys; the historic
center of town, and the old Roman streets, are fascinating. Meals BL
 
3.
Pompeii / Rome
Travel to
Pompeii, a prosperous city of 27,000 until it was frozen in time at the moment
it was completely buried by volcanic ash from the eruption of Mt. Vesuvius in
79 AD. Excavations began in the 18th century and are still in progress today.
Walk through the ruins of Pompeii with a local expert to discover the way life
was in Italy in the 1st century AD – visit the temple, the forum and a home adorned
with frescoes. Arrive late afternoon in Rome, where you’ll spend the next three
nights. Your hotel is located on the fashionable Via Veneto, close to historic
and cultural attractions. Meals BLD
 
4.
After-Hours Vatican Museums Visit
Sightseeing in Rome is highlighted by a Tauck Exclusive –
an after-hours tour of the Vatican Museums (day of the tour may vary). No trip
to Rome would be complete without a visit to the Vatican, a state and city all
in one; see the Candelabra Gallery, Map Gallery and the Tapestries, home to a
vast collection of art treasures. Enter the Sistine Chapel to view the artist
Michelangelo’s famous frescoes adorning the chapel’s ceiling – without the
usual crowds! Meals B
 
5. Rome
of the Caesars
Rome
sightseeing includes the ruins of the Imperial Palace and Circus Maximus; a
tour of St. Peter’s Basilica plus an opportunity to see St. Peter’s Square in
Vatican City; and a view of the Roman Forum from above. A visit to the
Colosseum, the 2,000-year-old amphitheatre in the heart of Rome that was once
used for gladiator contests and public events, will certainly be one of the
highlights! You’ll get an authentic taste of Italian cuisine tonight when you
dine family style at a local restaurant in Rome. Meals BD
 
6.
Orvieto and Torgiano
Arrive in
Orvieto, set high on a hill volcanic in origin, overlooking the vineyards
below. Visit the Duomo, one of Italy’s greatest cathedrals; the façade is a
visual treat, a blend of sculpture and mosaic splashed with a palette of colors
and magnificent bronze doors. Inside, view inspiring frescoes created by
renowned artists. Following a traditional trattoria lunch near the Piazza del
Duomo, continue through Umbria, a wine-producing region. Arrive in Torgiano, a
small Tiber Valley village, to experience Italian country life for the next two
nights. Your accommodation is a 17th-century patrician home featuring wooden
beams, terra-cotta floors, and a private winery, whose product you’ll sample at
a wine tasting in the wine museum / osteria. Meals BLD
 
7. Explore
Historic Assisi 
Take a short
drive to Assisi, a well-preserved medieval hillside town spread across the
slopes of a mountain. Assisi was the home of St. Francis, who left a position
of wealth and turned to a life of poverty, chastity and obedience, founding the
order whose followers became known as Franciscans. St. Francis Basilica, built
by the people, today houses some of Italy’s great 13th- and 14th-century
frescoes. Enjoy some free time in the center of town, then return to Torgiano
for the evening. Join us tonight for a cooking demonstration by an Umbrian
chef, where you’ll discover the nuances of Italian cuisine. Meals BD
 
8. Under
the Tuscan Sun 
Tuscany is
an enchanting region, where for centuries the beauty of nature has blended with
the ingenuities of mankind; your travels through the rolling Tuscan hills take
you through golden landscapes dotted with olive and fig trees. Arrive in the
hilltop town of San Gimignano, one of its gems. Medieval towers, built in the
12th century by the nobility, are visible from afar. Stroll along the quaint
streets and visit Piazza della Cisterna, one of Italy’s most picturesque town
squares. Continue your journey through lush Tuscan countryside to the seaside
resort town of Viareggio for an overnight stay. Meals BD
 
9. Cinque
Terre / Florence
Cinque Terre
was accessible only by sea for hundreds of years, five picture-book fishing
villages nestled between the Mediterranean’s blue waters and the rugged coastal
mountains. Travel by train through the mountains to one of the villages, where
you’ll experience daily life – from colorful fishing boats home from the sea,
to the wine, olives, and citrus fruit produced locally. You’ll have some time
to explore the cobblestone streets and alleyways, perhaps sampling the unique flavors
of the local cuisine for lunch. Aboard a private boat, cruise the shores of the
Italian Riviera for unparalleled views of this dramatic coast. Journey to the
Renaissance city of Florence, where art and architecture whisper the history of
the ages. Meals BD
 
10.
Experience Florence
A briefing
by an art history lecturer precedes a walking tour of Florence and a guided
visit through the collections of works by many of the greatest artists of the
14th and 15th centuries – including Michelangelo’s famous sculpture of David and paintings by Botticelli,
Uccello, Ghirlandaio, del Sarto and others – at Galleria dell’Accademia.
Flourishing for more than four centuries, the world-renowned institution was
established in 1563 as the first art school in Europe. The rest of the
afternoon and evening is free. Meals B
 
11.
Treasures of the Uffizi Gallery
Join a local
expert for a guided tour of Florence’s inspiring Uffizi Gallery. Originally a
suite of offices, it began being used to display some of the Medici family’s
private art treasures in 1581 – thereby making it the oldest art gallery in the
world. Its vast collection includes some of the most revered works of the
Renaissance, such as Botticelli’s The Birth of Venus, Michelangelo’s The Holy Family, da Vincis unfinished Adoration
of the Magi,
Bellini’s Allegory
and Raphael’s Madonna of the Goldfinch. Meals B
 
12. Ride
the Eurostar to Venice
The
high-speed Eurostar
train takes you to Venice, traversed by some 100 canals. Transfer by canal boat
to your hotel, conveniently located near St. Mark’s Square; after lunch, embark
on a walking tour. Visit St. Mark’s Basilica as well as the sumptuous Doges’
Palace, once the official residence of the elected officials of the Venetian
Republic. Indulge in the quintessential Venetian experience – a serenade aboard
a gondola on the canals. Dinner tonight is on your own in Venice, a city
well-known for its restaurants! Meals BL
 
13.
Venice at Leisure
The entire
day is free to do as you please in Venice. You’ve got lots to choose from –
perhaps visiting the museums, walking along the narrow streets and lanes, or
taking a tour of the islands. Join us this evening for a farewell cocktail
reception and dinner. Meals BD
 
14.
Journey Home
Tour ends: Venice. Fly home anytime. A transfer is included from The Westin Europa &amp;
Regina to Marco Polo Airport. Allow 2 1/2 hours for flight check-in. Meals B
]]>
  </itinerary>
  <itineraryDetails>
    <itineraryDay day="1">
  <title>Arrive Naples / Sorrento</title>
  <description>Tour begins: 6:00 PM, Grand Hotel Excelsior Vittoria. A transfer is included from Naples International Airport to the Grand Hotel Excelsior Vittoria. Your hotel is one of Italy’s “grand hotels,” family owned and run since it opened in 1834; it overlooks the beautiful waters of the Bay of Naples. Join us for a welcome cocktail reception and dinner tonight.</description>
  <overnight>Grand Hotel Excelsior Vittoria, Sorrento, Italy</overnight>
  <meals>Dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="2">
  <title>Discover the Amalfi Coast</title>
  <description>Rise early for an unhurried drive along the Amalfi Coast, one of the most spectacular drives in the world! Fantastic rock formations drop vertically into the sea; sub-tropical vegetation on the hillsides, together with colorful Mediterranean flora, create bewitching landscapes. Stop for visits in the seaside villages of Amalfi, with its many medieval antiquities, and Ravello, known for its dramatic villas; savor the panoramic views of the coast and sea. Return to Sorrento in the afternoon to explore its charming piazzas and small alleys; the historic center of town, and the old Roman streets, are fascinating.</description>
  <overnight>Grand Hotel Excelsior Vittoria, Sorrento, Italy</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="3">
  <title>Pompeii / Rome</title>
  <description>Travel to Pompeii, a prosperous city of 27,000 until it was frozen in time at the moment it was completely buried by volcanic ash from the eruption of Mt. Vesuvius in 79 AD. Excavations began in the 18th century and are still in progress today. Walk through the ruins of Pompeii with a local expert to discover the way life was in Italy in the 1st century AD – visit the temple, the forum and a home adorned with frescoes. Arrive late afternoon in Rome, where you’ll spend the next three nights. Your hotel is located on the fashionable Via Veneto, close to historic and cultural attractions.</description>
  <overnight>The Westin Excelsior, Rome, Italy</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="4">
  <title>Afte-Hours Vatican Museums Visit</title>
  <description>Sightseeing in Rome is highlighted by a Tauck Exclusive – an after-hours tour of the Vatican Museums (day of the tour may vary). No trip to Rome would be complete without a visit to the Vatican, a state and city all in one; see the Candelabra Gallery, Map Gallery and the Tapestries, home to a vast collection of art treasures. Enter the Sistine Chapel to view the artist Michelangelo’s famous frescoes adorning the chapel’s ceiling – without the usual crowds!</description>
  <overnight>The Westin Excelsior, Rome, Italy</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="5">
  <title>Rome of the Caesars</title>
  <description>Rome sightseeing includes the ruins of the Imperial Palace and Circus Maximus; a tour of St. Peter’s Basilica plus an opportunity to see St. Peter’s Square in Vatican City; and a view of the Roman Forum from above. A visit to the Colosseum, the 2,000-year-old amphitheatre in the heart of Rome that was once used for gladiator contests and public events, will certainly be one of the highlights! You’ll get an authentic taste of Italian cuisine tonight when you dine family style at a local restaurant in Rome.</description>
  <overnight>The Westin Excelsior, Roma, Italy</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="6">
  <title>Orvieto and Torgiano</title>
  <description>Arrive in Orvieto, set high on a hill volcanic in origin, overlooking the vineyards below. Visit the Duomo, one of Italy’s greatest cathedrals; the façade is a visual treat, a blend of sculpture and mosaic splashed with a palette of colors and magnificent bronze doors. Inside, view inspiring frescoes created by renowned artists. Following a traditional trattoria lunch near the Piazza del Duomo, continue through Umbria, a wine-producing region. Arrive in Torgiano, a small Tiber Valley village, to experience Italian country life for the next two nights. Your accommodation is a 17th-century patrician home featuring wooden beams, terra-cotta floors, and a private winery, whose product you’ll sample at a wine tasting in the wine museum / osteria.</description>
  <overnight>Hotel Le Tre Vaselle, Torgiano, Italy</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="7">
  <title>Explore Historic Assisi </title>
  <description>Take a short drive to Assisi, a well-preserved medieval hillside town spread across the slopes of a mountain. Assisi was the home of St. Francis, who left a position of wealth and turned to a life of poverty, chastity and obedience, founding the order whose followers became known as Franciscans. St. Francis Basilica, built by the people, today houses some of Italy’s great 13th- and 14th-century frescoes. Enjoy some free time in the center of town, then return to Torgiano for the evening. Join us tonight for a cooking demonstration by an Umbrian chef, where you’ll discover the nuances of Italian cuisine.</description>
  <overnight>Hotel Le Tre Vaselle, Torgiano, Italy</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="8">
  <title>Under the Tuscan Sun </title>
  <description>Tuscany is an enchanting region, where for centuries the beauty of nature has blended with the ingenuities of mankind; your travels through the rolling Tuscan hills take you through golden landscapes dotted with olive and fig trees. Arrive in the hilltop town of San Gimignano, one of its gems. Medieval towers, built in the 12th century by the nobility, are visible from afar. Stroll along the quaint streets and visit Piazza della Cisterna, one of Italy’s most picturesque town squares. Continue your journey through lush Tuscan countryside to the seaside resort town of Viareggio for an overnight stay.</description>
  <overnight>Grand Hotel Principe di Piemonte, Viareggio, Italy</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="9">
  <title>Cinque Terre / Florence</title>
  <description>Cinque Terre was accessible only by sea for hundreds of years, five picture-book fishing villages nestled between the Mediterranean’s blue waters and the rugged coastal mountains. Travel by train through the mountains to one of the villages, where you’ll experience daily life – from colorful fishing boats home from the sea, to the wine, olives, and citrus fruit produced locally. You’ll have some time to explore the cobblestone streets and alleyways, perhaps sampling the unique flavors of the local cuisine for lunch. Aboard a private boat, cruise the shores of the Italian Riviera for unparalleled views of this dramatic coast. Journey to the Renaissance city of Florence, where art and architecture whisper the history of the ages.</description>
  <overnight>Grand Hotel, Florence, Italy</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="10">
  <title>Experience Florence</title>
  <description>A briefing by an art history lecturer precedes a walking tour of Florence and a guided visit through the collections of works by many of the greatest artists of the 14th and 15th centuries – including Michelangelo’s famous sculpture of David and paintings by Botticelli, Uccello, Ghirlandaio, del Sarto and others – at Galleria dell’Accademia. Flourishing for more than four centuries, the world-renowned institution was established in 1563 as the first art school in Europe. The rest of the afternoon and evening is free.</description>
  <overnight>Grand Hotel, Florence, Italy</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast </meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="11">
  <title>Treasures of the Uffizi Gallery</title>
  <description>Join a local expert for a guided tour of Florence’s inspiring Uffizi Gallery. Originally a suite of offices, it began being used to display some of the Medici family’s private art treasures in 1581 – thereby making it the oldest art gallery in the world. Its vast collection includes some of the most revered works of the Renaissance, such as Botticelli’s The Birth of Venus, Michelangelo’s The Holy Family, da Vincis unfinished Adoration of the Magi, Bellini’s Allegory and Raphael’s Madonna of the Goldfinch.</description>
  <overnight>Grand Hotel, Florence, Italy</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="12">
  <title>Ride the Eurostar to Venice</title>
  <description>The high-speed Eurostar train takes you to Venice, traversed by some 100 canals. Transfer by canal boat to your hotel, conveniently located near St. Mark’s Square; after lunch, embark on a walking tour. Visit St. Mark’s Basilica as well as the sumptuous Doges’ Palace, once the official residence of the elected officials of the Venetian Republic. Indulge in the quintessential Venetian experience – a serenade aboard a gondola on the canals. Dinner tonight is on your own in Venice, a city well-known for its restaurants!</description>
  <overnight>The Westin Europa &amp; Regina, Venice, Italy</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="13">
  <title>Venice at Leisure</title>
  <description>The entire day is free to do as you please in Venice. You’ve got lots to choose from – perhaps visiting the museums, walking along the narrow streets and lanes, or taking a tour of the islands. Join us this evening for a farewell cocktail reception and dinner.</description>
  <overnight>The Westin Europa &amp; Regina, Venice, Italy</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="14">
  <title>Journey Home</title>
  <description>Tour ends: Venice. Fly home anytime. A transfer is included from The Westin Europa &amp;amp; Regina to Marco Polo Airport. Allow 2 1/2 hours for flight check-in.</description>
  <overnight></overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast</meals>
</itineraryDay>
  </itineraryDetails>
  <highlights>		
Sorrento ~ Amalfi Coast ~ Pompeii ~ Rome ~ Umbria ~ Tuscany ~ Cinque Terre ~ Florence ~ Venice 
</highlights>
  <tauckValues>
    <value order="1">TAUCKS YELLOW ROADS! Encounter spectacular scenery around every bend on a drive along the celebrated Amalfi Coast  the perfect blending of earth, sea and sky!</value><value order="2">TAUCK EXCLUSIVE! After-hours guided visit to the Vatican Museums and the Sistine Chapel, without the crowds  see the Vatican treasures at your own pace</value><value order="3">A wine tasting from local vineyards in Umbria, where youll discover the nuances of Italian cooking from a chef</value><value order="4">An in-depth briefing by an art historian before a walking tour of Florence and a guided visit through the famed Galleria dellAccademia</value><value order="5">A private boat cruise along the Mediterranean shores of Cinque Terre for an in-depth look at centuries-old coastal villages</value><value order="6">Airport transfers upon arrival and departure</value><value order="7">25 meals (13 breakfasts, 4 lunches &amp; 8 dinners), service charges, gratuities to local guides, admission fees, taxes and porterage</value>
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</tour><tour>
  <sourceId>IW2010</sourceId>
  <title>A Week In... Italy</title>
  <summary>
    <![CDATA[		Tauck&apos;s after-hours visit to the Vatican Museums, frescoed
cathedrals, priceless art masterpieces, the glory of the Roman Empire,
medieval hilltop towns, and the treasures of the Uffizi Gallery are all
highlighted on this 8-day Florence, Rome, and Tuscany tour.
]]>
  </summary>
  <description>
    <![CDATA[From
Rome&apos;s monumental Colosseum to Florence&apos;s architectural masterpieces to
medieval hill towns, our  one-week Umbria, Lazio and Tuscany tour is filled
with special experiences – including Tauck&apos;s exclusive, after-hours visit to the Vatican Museums
and the Sistine Chapel – a rare opportunity to contemplate the
inspirational treasures, without the crowds! Three nights in the heart
of Rome set the stage for viewing landmark sights such as the Roman
Forum, ornate architectural masterpieces such as St. Peter&apos;s and preserved
ancient hill towns dotting the countryside like Siena, Perugia, Assisi and
Orvieto. And art historians and local guides provide the inside story
behind Florence&apos;s art masterpieces, before your guided visit to the Uffizi Gallery.
]]>
  </description>
  <link>http://www.tauck.com/tours/europe-tours/italy-tours/tuscany-tour-iw-2010</link>
  <durationDays>8</durationDays>
  <durationDetails>8 days and 7 nights.</durationDetails>
  <tripType>ESCORTED_TOUR</tripType>
  <brand>TWD</brand>
  <subbrand>Europe</subbrand>
  <gradeRating>ALL_AGES</gradeRating>
  <comfortRating>COMFORTABLE_MIXED</comfortRating>
  <startingLocation>Rome, Italy</startingLocation>
  <prices>
    <price currency="USD">2990</price>
    <priceDetails><![CDATA[All prices are per person in U.S. dollars. ]]></priceDetails>
  </prices>
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  <itinerary>
    <![CDATA[]]>
  </itinerary>
  <itineraryDetails>
    <itineraryDay day="1">
  <title>Arrive Rome</title>
  <description>Tour begins: 6:00 PM, Hotel Majestic Roma. A transfer is included from Rome Leonardo da Vinci Airport in Fiumicino to the landmark Hotel Majestic Roma, on the fashionable Via Veneto in the heart of the city. Join us for a welcome cocktail reception and dinner tonight.</description>
  <overnight>Hotel Majestic Roma, Rome, Italy</overnight>
  <meals>Dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="2">
  <title> Rome / After-Hours Vatican Museums Visit</title>
  <description>A guided walking tour of Rome is followed by lunch and free time to explore the sights on your own. Later, a special Tauck Exclusive – an after-hours tour of the Vatican Museums (day of the tour may vary). See the Candelabra and Map Galleries and the Tapestries. A highlight is your visit to the Sistine Chapel and Michelangelo’s frescoes; without crowds, you’ll discover that the floor is as famous as the ceiling!</description>
  <overnight>Hotel Majestic Roma, Rome, Italy</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="3">
  <title>Rome, the Eternal City</title>
  <description>Once virtually the capital of most of the ancient world, Rome has influenced art, architecture, literature and government for over 2,000 years. City sightseeing today includes the ruins of the Roman Forum from above, as well as visits to such timeless sites as the Colosseum, St. Peter’s Basilica and St. Peter’s Square. The rest of the day is free to explore the “Eternal City” as you wish.</description>
  <overnight>Hotel Majestic Roma, Rome, Italy</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="4">
  <title>Country Life in Umbria</title>
  <description>Travel from Rome through the lush countryside of Lazio and Umbria to the town of Orvieto; enjoy a guided visit to Orvieto’s 14th-century Gothic cathedral, one of Italy’s greatest, followed by time to have lunch on your own in town. Spend the next two nights in Umbria’s capital of Perugia at the Hotel Brufani Palace, a landmark, five-star luxury hotel in Perugia’s historic center.</description>
  <overnight>Hotel Brufani Palace, Perugia, Italy</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="5">
  <title>Assisi / Umbria / Perugia</title>
  <description>In the medieval hill town of Assisi, visit Basilica di San Francesco, where the town’s most famous son, St. Francis, is buried; a local expert shares insights about its famous frescoes on a guided tour. Attend a wine tasting and lunch at the osteria of a famed winery before returning to Perugia.</description>
  <overnight>Hotel Brufani Palace, Perugia, Italy</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="6">
  <title>Siena / Tuscany / Florence</title>
  <description>See the picturesque landscapes of Tuscany en route to Siena. Tour the Duomo, Siena’s black-and-white masterpiece of a cathedral, and see the beautiful Piazza del Campo, where Siena’s world-famous horse race, the Palio, is run twice a year. Continue on to Florence, birthplace of the Renaissance, for a two-night stay. Join us for a visit to the Galleria dell’Accademia, home of Michelangelo’s David; enjoy a lecture this evening by a local art historian.</description>
  <overnight>Bernini Palace Hotel, Florence, Italy</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="7">
  <title>Renaissance Treasures</title>
  <description>A guided walking tour of landmark sites in Florence precedes a tour of the Uffizi Gallery with a local expert; see some of the world’s greatest art masterpieces up close. The rest of the day is free to explore on your own. Join us for a farewell cocktail reception and dinner tonight.</description>
  <overnight>Bernini Palace Hotel, Florence, Italy</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="8">
  <title>Journey Home</title>
  <description>Tour ends: Florence. Fly home anytime. A transfer is included from Bernini Palace Hotel to Aeroporto di Firenze. Allow 2 1/2 hours for check-in.</description>
  <overnight></overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast</meals>
</itineraryDay>
  </itineraryDetails>
  <highlights>		
Rome ~ Orvieto ~ Perugia ~ Assisi ~ Siena ~ Florence 

</highlights>
  <tauckValues>
    <value order="1">TAUCKS YELLOW ROADS! Follow the timeless River Tiber from Orvieto to Perugia in Umbria, and on through vineyards, olive groves and medieval Tuscan towns to the spectacular Renaissance city of Florence in the Chianti Hills</value><value order="2">TAUCK EXCLUSIVE!  After-hours guided visit to the Vatican Museums and the Sistine Chapel, without the distraction of crowds; see the treasures of the Vatican unhurried, at your own pace</value><value order="3">A lecture by an art historian who introduces you to Renaissance art and the city of Florence, and a guided tour of the Uffizi Gallery with a local expert</value><value order="4">A walking tour through Old Rome as seen through the eyes of a local guide</value><value order="5">Airport transfers upon arrival and departure</value><value order="6">13 meals (7 breakfasts, 2 lunches &amp; 4 dinners), service charges, gratuities to local guides, admission fees, taxes and porterage</value>
  </tauckValues>  
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    <month>10</month>
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</tour><tour>
  <sourceId>JS2010</sourceId>
  <title>San Francisco, Sonoma &amp; Napa Valleys</title>
  <summary>
    <![CDATA[Explore San Francisco&apos;s diverse neighborhood and cultural gems; visit Muir Woods; and enjoy a catamaran cruise around Alcatraz, wine tastings in Sonoma, and the quintessential Napa Valley tour aboard the Wine Train on this weeklong journey.
]]>
  </summary>
  <description>
    <![CDATA[The charms of the City by the Bay and the delights of California&apos;s wine country make this sophisticated San Francisco, Sonoma and Napa Valley tour a memorable experience. Take a private San Francisco Bay catamaran cruise with lunch... an exclusive guided tour of the Embarcadero&apos;s Ferry Terminal Building with a culinary expert... a private tram tour with lunch in a wine cave and a tasting at the Benziger Family Winery in Sonoma... and a Napa Valley tour through lush vineyards by rail with dinner and tastings aboard the celebrated Wine Train. Savor the best that northern California has to offer with Tauck!
]]>
  </description>
  <link>http://www.tauck.com/tours/usa-tours/western-usa-travel/napa-valley-tour-js-2010</link>
  <durationDays>7</durationDays>
  <durationDetails>7 days and 6 nights.</durationDetails>
  <tripType>ESCORTED_TOUR</tripType>
  <brand>TWD</brand>
  <subbrand>USA and Canada</subbrand>
  <gradeRating>ALL_AGES</gradeRating>
  <comfortRating>COMFORTABLE_MIXED</comfortRating>
  <startingLocation>San Francisco, California</startingLocation>
  <prices>
    <price currency="USD">2295</price>
    <priceDetails><![CDATA[All prices are per person in U.S. dollars. ]]></priceDetails>
  </prices>
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  <itinerary>
    <![CDATA[1. Arrive San Francisco
Tour begins: 5:30 PM at Le Méridien San Francisco. A transfer is included from San Francisco International Airport to Le Méridien San Francisco. Join us for a welcome cocktail reception and dinner. Meals D

2. Explore San Francisco by Land &amp; Sea
Explore San Francisco just about every possible way – by cable car, catamaran and coach. Today’s sightseeing begins with a tour of bustling Fisherman’s Wharf and North Beach, noted for its 1950s beat generation. Then it’s all aboard a catamaran for a private luncheon cruise, serving up a taste of Boudin’s Bakery’s famous sourdough bread along with amazing views of Alcatraz Island and the iconic Golden Gate Bridge. Back on land, sightseeing continues with a look at Victorian San Francisco to view Victorian, Italianate and Queen Anne-style architectural treasures. Meals BL

3. Sights of San Francisco
A mecca for food lovers, the waterfront Ferry Terminal Building in the Embarcadero buzzes with artisan food shops, restaurants and wine bars, in addition to fresh Farmers Market produce. Join an epicurean concierge for an unprecedented culinary experience on a customized tour of San Francisco’s exciting food culture featuring exclusive tastings and specialty talks. Spend the remainder of the day at your leisure in San Francisco; your hotel is located in the heart of the city’s vibrant Embarcadero Center. Meals B

4. Muir Woods / Sonoma Valley
En route to Sonoma, a guided visit takes you deep within the heart of redwood groves to Muir Woods National Monument; see magnificent centuries-old Coast Redwood trees, averaging between 500 to 800 years old. Spend some free time in Sausalito before a visit to Viansa Winery, fashioned after the lush vineyards and villas of Tuscany, featuring Italian varietals. Partake in a privately guided tour and wine tasting before arriving at your resort in Sonoma, where you’ll have an opportunity to join the hotel’s sommelier for a wine education class. Meals BD

5. Wine Train / Napa Valley
Embark on a journey aboard the Wine Train through the vineyards of Napa Valley. Return to the gracious era of elegant rail travel on a 36-mile excursion through lush valleys that ends in the quaint village of St. Helena; dine in a restored 1917 Pullman Dining Car, complete with wine tasting. Upon your return to the resort, take a walk through Sonoma with your Tauck Director. Meals BL

6. Treasures of the Wine Country
Depart mid-morning for the Benziger Family Winery for a private tram tour and wine tasting, followed by lunch in the cool (literally) ”wine cave.” Alternatively, there is an optional (additional cost of $275) early morning hot air balloon ride over Napa Valley with a champagne breakfast; you’ll join the others for lunch at the winery. Tonight, join us for a wine and cheese reception that is followed by dinner, marking the end of a great week! Meals BLD

7. Journey Home
Tour ends: San Francisco Int’l Airport at 10:00 AM. A transfer is included from The Lodge at Sonoma to San Francisco Int’l Airport (approx. 45 miles – allow two hours for check-in) or Le Méridien San Francisco where Tauck can arrange additional nights. Airport transfers are included for these bookings. Meals B
]]>
  </itinerary>
  <itineraryDetails>
    <itineraryDay day="1">
  <title>Arrive San Francisco</title>
  <description>Tour begins: 5:30 PM at Le M&amp;#233;ridien San Francisco.  A transfer is included from San Francisco International Airport to Le M&amp;#233;ridien San Francisco.  Join us for a welcome cocktail reception and dinner.  Meals D</description>
  <overnight>Le Méridien San Francisco, CA</overnight>
  <meals>Dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="2">
  <title>Explore San Francisco by Land &amp; Sea</title>
  <description>Explore San Francisco just about every possible way &amp;#45; by cable car, catamaran and coach.  Today&apos;s sightseeing begins with a tour of bustling Fisherman&apos;s Wharf and North Beach, noted for its 1950s beat generation.  Then it&apos;s all aboard a catamaran for a private luncheon cruise, serving up a taste of Boudin&apos;s Bakery&apos;s famous sourdough bread along with amazing views of Alcatraz Island and the iconic Golden Gate Bridge.  Back on land, sightseeing continues with a look at Victorian San Francisco to view Victorian, Italianate and Queen Anne&amp;#45;style architectural treasures.  Meals BL</description>
  <overnight>Le Méridien San Francisco, CA</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="3">
  <title>Sights of San Francisco</title>
  <description>A mecca for food lovers, the waterfront Ferry Terminal Building in the Embarcadero buzzes with artisan food shops, restaurants and wine bars, in addition to fresh Farmers Market produce.  Join an epicurean concierge for an unprecedented culinary experience on a customized tour of San Francisco&apos;s exciting food culture featuring exclusive tastings and specialty talks.  Spend the remainder of the day at your leisure in San Francisco; your hotel is located in the heart of the city&apos;s vibrant Embarcadero Center.  Meals B</description>
  <overnight>Le Méridien San Francisco, CA</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="4">
  <title>Muir Woods / Sonoma Valley</title>
  <description>En route to Sonoma, a guided visit takes you deep within the heart of redwood groves to Muir Woods National Monument; see magnificent centuries&amp;#45;old Coast Redwood trees, averaging between 500 to 800 years old.  Spend some free time in Sausalito before a visit to Viansa Winery, fashioned after the lush vineyards and villas of Tuscany, featuring Italian varietals.  Partake in a privately guided tour and wine tasting before arriving at your resort in Sonoma, where you&apos;ll have an opportunity to join the hotel&apos;s sommelier for a wine education class.  Meals BD</description>
  <overnight>The Lodge at Sonoma – A Renaissance Resort &amp; Spa, Sonoma, CA</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="5">
  <title>Wine Train / Napa Valley</title>
  <description>Embark on a journey aboard the Wine Train through the vineyards of Napa Valley.  Return to the gracious era of elegant rail travel on a 36&amp;#45;mile excursion through lush valleys that ends in the quaint village of St.  Helena; dine in a restored 1917 Pullman Dining Car, complete with wine tasting.  Upon your return to the resort, take a walk through Sonoma with your Tauck Director.  Meals BL</description>
  <overnight>The Lodge at Sonoma – A Renaissance Resort &amp; Spa, Sonoma, CA</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="6">
  <title>Treasures of the Wine Country</title>
  <description>Depart mid&amp;#45;morning for the Benziger Family Winery for a private tram tour and wine tasting, followed by lunch in the cool (literally) ”wine cave.” Alternatively, there is an optional (additional cost of $275) early morning hot air balloon ride over Napa Valley with a champagne breakfast; you&apos;ll join the others for lunch at the winery.  Tonight, join us for a wine and cheese reception that is followed by dinner, marking the end of a great week! Meals BLD</description>
  <overnight>The Lodge at Sonoma – A Renaissance Resort &amp; Spa, Sonoma, CA</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="7">
  <title>Journey Home</title>
  <description>Tour ends: San Francisco Int’l Airport at 10:00 AM. A transfer is included from The Lodge at Sonoma to San Francisco Int’l Airport (approx. 45 miles – allow two hours for check-in) or Le Méridien San Francisco where Tauck can arrange additional nights. Airport transfers are included for these bookings.</description>
  <overnight></overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast</meals>
</itineraryDay>
  </itineraryDetails>
  <highlights>
		
				Private San Francisco Bay Catamaran Cruise ~ Napa Wine Train ~ Muir Woods ~ Wineries 
</highlights>
  <tauckValues>
    <value order="1">A private Tauck catamaran cruise in San Francisco Bay with an on-board lunch, enhanced by views of Alcatraz Island and the magnificent Golden Gate Bridge</value><value order="2">A private tram tour, lunch in a wine cave and a tasting at the Benziger Family Winery in Sonoma</value><value order="3">Dine aboard the elegant Wine Train on a journey through the vineyards of Napa Valley</value><value order="4">An exclusive guided culinary tour of the Ferry Terminal Building on the Embarcadero waterfront with a local expert</value><value order="5">Airport transfers upon arrival and departure as noted</value><value order="6">12 meals, service charges, gratuities to local guides, admission fees, taxes and porterage</value>
  </tauckValues>  
  <departureDates>
    <date>
    <day>19</day>
    <month>6</month>
    <year>2010</year>
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    <doublesPrice>2690</doublesPrice>
    <triplesPrice>2534</triplesPrice>
    <quadsPrice>0</quadsPrice>
    
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    <day>31</day>
    <month>7</month>
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    <doublesPrice>2295</doublesPrice>
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    <day>4</day>
    <month>9</month>
    <year>2010</year>
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    <day>11</day>
    <month>9</month>
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    <doublesPrice>2295</doublesPrice>
    <triplesPrice>2139</triplesPrice>
    <quadsPrice>0</quadsPrice>
    
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    <day>18</day>
    <month>9</month>
    <year>2010</year>
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    <doublesPrice>2295</doublesPrice>
    <triplesPrice>2139</triplesPrice>
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    <day>25</day>
    <month>9</month>
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    <triplesPrice>2534</triplesPrice>
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  <date>
    <day>2</day>
    <month>10</month>
    <year>2010</year>
    <singlesPrice>2835</singlesPrice>
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    <day>16</day>
    <month>10</month>
    <year>2010</year>
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    <doublesPrice>2295</doublesPrice>
    <triplesPrice>2139</triplesPrice>
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  </date>

</departureDates>

</tour><tour>
  <sourceId>KT2010</sourceId>
  <title>Kenya &amp; Tanzania: A Classic Safari</title>
  <summary>
    <![CDATA[		

Tauck&apos;s Tanzania and Kenya safari offers astounding wildlife viewing in renowned game reserves and national parks, topped off with a hot air balloon ride over the Masai Mara.
]]>
  </summary>
  <description>
    <![CDATA[		
Join Tauck in East Africa’s renowned game reserves and national parks for an unforgettable Tanzania and Kenya safari! Observe huge herds roaming the Serengeti, the  bird life of Lake Manyara, the &quot;lost world&quot; of Ngorongoro Crater, and rare species in Samburu National Reserve. Encounter Africa’s Big Five in their natural environment... ride on a hot air balloon over the Masai Mara at dawn – capped by a champagne breakfast... evoke images of Out of Africa at the Karen Blixen Museum in Nairobi... visit the William Holden Animal Orphanage during a stay at the  Fairmont Mount Kenya Safari Club... tour a private coffee plantation and meet the weavers of a local village... travel in exclusive Tauck safari vehicles, and stay in terrific tented camps and safari lodges with Tauck!
]]>
  </description>
  <link>http://www.tauck.com/tours/africa-travel/kenya-safari-kt-2010</link>
  <durationDays>13</durationDays>
  <durationDetails>13 days and 12 nights.</durationDetails>
  <tripType>ESCORTED_TOUR</tripType>
  <brand>TWD</brand>
  <subbrand>Exotics</subbrand>
  <gradeRating>ALL_AGES</gradeRating>
  <comfortRating>COMFORTABLE_MIXED</comfortRating>
  <startingLocation>Arusha, Tanzania</startingLocation>
  <prices>
    <price currency="USD">5680</price>
    <priceDetails><![CDATA[All prices are per person in U.S. dollars. ]]></priceDetails>
  </prices>
  <images>
    <image isMain="true">http://tools.tauck.com/Files/ItineraryImages/ListImages/img_KT2010_list.jpg</image>
    <image>http://tools.tauck.com/Files/ItineraryImages/altImages/KT2010_alt1.jpg</image>
    <image>http://tools.tauck.com/Files/ItineraryImages/altImages/KT2010_alt2.jpg</image>
    <image>http://tools.tauck.com/Files/ItineraryImages/altImages/KT2010_alt3.jpg</image>
    <image isMap="true">http://tools.tauck.com/Files/ItineraryImages/MapImages/map_KT2010.jpg</image>
  </images>
  <itinerary>
    <![CDATA[Flying to Kenya &amp; Tanzania 
Flying time to Tanzania from gateway cities in the eastern U.S. averages between 20 and 30 hours, and may include a stop-over in Europe; most international flights arrive between 7:00 PM and 12:00 noon local time, 8 hours ahead of U.S. Eastern Standard Time. To ease the effects of jet lag, you may want to consider traveling to Africa a day early. Tauck can book your international flights for travel originating in the U.S., including arranging an extra night at Serena Mountain Village, Arusha, for the evening before your journey begins, giving you time to rest and relax. Ask for details upon booking.

1. Arrive Arusha, Tanzania
Tour begins: Serena Mountain Village, Arusha. Transfers are included from Kilimanjaro International Airport to the Serena Mountain Village, Arusha, for an overnight stay. 

2. Lake Manyara National Park
Kick off your amazing African safari* by setting out on a four-night safari to Ngorongoro Crater and the Serengeti plains, traveling through Lake Manyara National Park for your first unforgettable experience at wildlife viewing. Along with abundant giraffes, baboons and elephants, Lake Manyara is home to a multitude of birds, including great birds of prey. Continue on to Ngorongoro Serena Safari Lodge in the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, home to an estimated 30,000 large mammals. Please join us for a welcome reception and dinner at your lodge; built directly into the rim of vast Ngorongoro Crater, it overlooks the caldera’s lush, wildlife-rich floor far below. Meals BLD

3. Ngorongoro Crater
Experience the Africa of bygone days when you explore the “lost world” of Ngorongoro Crater, believed by many to have been Africa’s original “Garden of Eden.” Within this dormant volcano’s walls lie short grasslands, swamps, forests and a freshwater lake, inspiring the continual migration of animals. From aboard your four-wheel-drive vehicle, you’ll have an opportunity to spot Africa’s renowned Big Five – buffalo, elephant, leopard, the black-maned lion and the endangered, rare black rhinoceros – as well as herds of zebras, wildebeests and gazelles. A hot lunch in the crater will be a highlight of your day. Meals BLD

4. Olduvai Gorge / Serengeti
A memorable day begins with a visit to Olduvai Gorge; it was here, 50 years ago, that archaeologists Louis and Mary Leakey discovered the fossilized remains of some of the earliest known human species. Enjoy game viewing as you drive to your wilderness lodge in Serengeti National Park; be prepared for bumps and bounces along the unpaved roads. Your comfortable stone-built lodge accommodations for the next two nights were inspired by the traditional circular dwellings of Maasai villages. Meals BLD

5. Serengeti National Park
Morning and afternoon game drives take you into the heart of the golden Serengeti savanna today. The Serengeti ecosystem is one of the oldest on earth, where diverse habitats sustain an abundance of flora and fauna. You may spot numerous prides of lions, zebras, hyenas, leopards, cheetahs, elephants, black rhinoceros, hippos, buffalo, jackals, gazelles, and primates. Enjoy the evening under the backdrop of a memorable African sunset. Meals BLD

6. Serengeti to Nairobi
Fly to Arusha this morning and cross into Kenya; arrive in Nairobi for lunch at a local restaurant. Visit the Karen Blixen Museum, the former coffee farm and home of the Danish writer (a.k.a. Isak Dinesen) depicted in the film Out of Africa; and learn about East Africa’s different types of giraffes on a guided visit to Nairobi’s Giraffe Center. Meals BLD

7. Plantation Tour/Animal Orphanage 
Take a guided tour of a private coffee plantation with its owners, then continue to the Fairmont Mount Kenya Safari Club for a two-night stay. After lunch and an equatorial demonstration, spend the afternoon at William Holden’s Animal Orphanage, a sanctuary on the grounds of your retreat that teaches local children to appreciate Africa’s unique wildlife. Meals BLD

8. Village Weavers/Safari Club at Leisure
See local villagers shear, spin, and dye and weave sheep’s wool to create colorful rugs, sweaters, and shawls. Return to your resort to swim or just relax; golf and fishing are available at additional cost. Dine à la carte tonight. Meals BLD

9. Samburu National Reserve
Drive to the wildlife-rich Samburu National Reserve and settle in at Samburu Serena Safari Lodge for a two-night stay. Look for elephants, baboons, and leopards on a game drive; a talk by a resident guide follows dinner. Meals BLD

10. Game Drives in Samburu
Morning and late afternoon game drives combine with a visit to a nearby tribal village and talk with local residents for an in-depth look at life in the Samburu Reserve. Along with storks, elephants and hippos, you may observe some of Africa’s rarest animals on your game drives. Meals BLD

11. Masai Mara Reserve
A flight from Samburu takes you to Masai Mara National Reserve in southern Kenya, where Maasai warriors welcome you. Your luxurious tented camp is surrounded on three sides by a river; a late afternoon game drive introduces you to an astounding array of animals. Meals BLD

12. Balloon Ride over the Masai Mara 
Rise early for an exciting hot air balloon* flight as dawn breaks over the Masai Mara Reserve, capped with an intimate champagne breakfast in the bush. After your final game drive this evening, our farewell dinner at your tented camp is the perfect ending to an amazing safari! Meals BLD

13. Nairobi / Journey Home
Fly to Nairobi for your journey home. A day room has been reserved for you at the Nairobi Serena Hotel; depart the hotel for the airport after dinner this evening. Tour ends: Jomo Kenyatta International Airport. Meals BLD

]]>
  </itinerary>
  <itineraryDetails>
    <itineraryDay day="1">
  <title>Arrive Arusha, Tanzania</title>
  <description>Tour begins: Serena Mountain Village, Arusha. Transfers are included from Kilimanjaro International Airport to the Serena Mountain Village, Arusha, for an overnight stay.</description>
  <overnight>Serena Mountain Village, Arusha, Tanzania</overnight>
  <meals></meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="2">
  <title>Lake Manyara National Park</title>
  <description>Kick off your amazing African safari* by setting out on a four-night safari to Ngorongoro Crater and the Serengeti plains, traveling through Lake Manyara National Park for your first unforgettable experience at wildlife viewing. Along with abundant giraffes, baboons and elephants, Lake Manyara is home to a multitude of birds, including great birds of prey. Continue on to Ngorongoro Serena Safari Lodge in the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, home to an estimated 30,000 large mammals. Please join us for a welcome reception and dinner at your lodge; built directly into the rim of vast Ngorongoro Crater, it overlooks the caldera’s lush, wildlife-rich floor far below.</description>
  <overnight>Ngorongoro Serena Safari Lodge, Ngorongoro Crater, Tanzania</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="3">
  <title>Ngorongoro Crater</title>
  <description>Experience the Africa of bygone days when you explore the “lost world” of Ngorongoro Crater, believed by many to have been Africa’s original “Garden of Eden.” Within this dormant volcano’s walls lie short grasslands, swamps, forests and a freshwater lake, inspiring the continual migration of animals. From aboard your four-wheel-drive vehicle, you’ll have an opportunity to spot Africa’s renowned Big Five – buffalo, elephant, leopard, the black-maned lion and the endangered, rare black rhinoceros – as well as herds of zebras, wildebeests and gazelles. A hot lunch in the crater will be a highlight of your day.</description>
  <overnight>Ngorongoro Serena Safari Lodge, Ngorongoro Crater, Tanzania</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="4">
  <title>Olduvai Gorge / Serengeti</title>
  <description>A memorable day begins with a visit to Olduvai Gorge; it was here, 50 years ago, that archaeologists Louis and Mary Leakey discovered the fossilized remains of some of the earliest known human species. Enjoy game viewing as you drive to your wilderness lodge in Serengeti National Park; be prepared for bumps and bounces along the unpaved roads. Your comfortable stone-built lodge accommodations for the next two nights were inspired by the traditional circular dwellings of Maasai villages.</description>
  <overnight>Serengeti Serena Safari Lodge, Serengeti National Park, Tanzania</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="5">
  <title>Serengeti National Park</title>
  <description>Morning and afternoon game drives take you into the heart of the golden Serengeti savanna today. The Serengeti ecosystem is one of the oldest on earth, where diverse habitats sustain an abundance of flora and fauna. You may spot numerous prides of lions, zebras, hyenas, leopards, cheetahs, elephants, black rhinoceros, hippos, buffalo, jackals, gazelles, and primates. Enjoy the evening under the backdrop of a memorable African sunset.</description>
  <overnight>Serengeti Serena Safari Lodge, Serengeti National Park, Tanzania</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="6">
  <title>Plantation Tour / Nairobi</title>
  <description>Fly to Arusha this morning for a guided tour of a private coffee plantation and lunch at a cultural center. A short afternoon flight takes you to Nairobi, Kenya; visit the Karen Blixen Museum, the former coffee farm and home of the Danish writer (a.k.a. Isak Dinesen) depicted in the film Out of Africa, and learn about East Africa’s different types of giraffes on a guided visit to Nairobi’s Giraffe Center.</description>
  <overnight>Nairobi Serena Hotel, Nairobi, Kenya</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="7">
  <title>Animal Orphanage / Safari Club</title>
  <description>Travel to the world-renowned Fairmont Mount Kenya Safari Club, former retreat of actor William Holden, for a two-night stay. After lunch and an equatorial demonstration, spend an afternoon at William Holden’s Animal Orphanage, a sanctuary on the grounds of the club that teaches local children to appreciate Africa’s unique wildlife.</description>
  <overnight>Fairmont Mount Kenya Safari Club, Nanyuki, Kenya</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="8">
  <title>Village Weavers/Safari Club at Leisure</title>
  <description>See local villagers shear, spin, and dye and weave sheep’s wool to create colorful rugs, sweaters, and shawls. Return to your resort to swim or just relax; golf and fishing are available at additional cost. Dine à la carte tonight.</description>
  <overnight>Fairmont Mount Kenya Safari Club, Nanyuki, Kenya</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="9">
  <title>Samburu National Reserve</title>
  <description>Drive to the wildlife-rich Samburu National Reserve and settle in at Samburu Serena Safari Lodge for a two-night stay. Look for elephants, baboons, and leopards on a game drive; a talk by a resident guide follows dinner.</description>
  <overnight>Samburu Serena Safari Lodge, Samburu National Reserve, Kenya</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="10">
  <title>Game Drives in Samburu</title>
  <description>Morning and late afternoon game drives combine with a visit to a nearby tribal village and talk with local residents for an in-depth look at life in the Samburu Reserve. Along with storks, elephants and hippos, you may observe some of Africa’s rarest animals on your game drives.</description>
  <overnight>Samburu Serena Safari Lodge, Samburu National Reserve, Kenya</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="11">
  <title>Masai Mara Reserve</title>
  <description>A flight from Samburu takes you to Masai Mara National Reserve in southern Kenya, where Maasai warriors welcome you. Your luxurious tented camp is surrounded on three sides by a river; a late afternoon game drive introduces you to an astounding array of animals.</description>
  <overnight>Fairmont Mara Safari Club, Masai Mara Game Reserve, Kenya</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="12">
  <title>Balloon Ride over the Masai Mara</title>
  <description>Rise early for an exciting hot air balloon* flight as dawn breaks over the Masai Mara Reserve, capped with an intimate champagne breakfast in the bush. After your final game drive this evening, our farewell dinner at your tented camp is the perfect ending to an amazing safari!</description>
  <overnight>Fairmont Mara Safari Club, Masai Mara Game Reserve, Kenya</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="13">
  <title>Nairobi / Journey Home</title>
  <description>Fly to Nairobi for your journey home. A day room has been reserved for you at the Nairobi Serena Hotel; depart the hotel for the airport after dinner this evening. Tour ends: Jomo Kenyatta International Airport.</description>
  <overnight>(Day) Nairobi Serena Hotel, Nairobi, Kenya</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner </meals>
</itineraryDay>
  </itineraryDetails>
  <highlights>		
Serengeti ~ Ngorongoro Crater ~ Nairobi ~ Masai Mara ~ Samburu 
</highlights>
  <tauckValues>
    <value order="1">Intimate safari groups limited to just 24 Tauck guests; 6-passenger, open-top vehicles with window seats for everyone, on game drives led by expert safari guides!</value><value order="2">2-night stays in the legendary Serengeti, Samburu and Masai Mara game reserves, with private game drives</value><value order="3">Hot air balloon ride at dawn over the Masai Mara Game Reserve, followed by a champagne breakfast</value><value order="4">Visits to the Karen Blixen Museum and the William Holden Animal Orphanage, and a tour and private lecture at the Nairobi Giraffe Center</value><value order="5">Overnight in a lodge built into the rim of Ngorongoro Crater for great views of the wildlife-rich wilderness</value><value order="6">Guided visit and talk by the owners at a private coffee plantation in Kenya</value><value order="7">Visits to local villages and a weaving demonstration</value><value order="8">36 meals (12 breakfasts, 12 lunches, 12 dinners)</value><value order="9">Gratuities to local guides, airport transfers, service charges, admissions fees, taxes and porterage</value>
  </tauckValues>  
  <departureDates>
    <date>
    <day>4</day>
    <month>7</month>
    <year>2010</year>
    <singlesPrice>8482</singlesPrice>
    <doublesPrice>7690</doublesPrice>
    <triplesPrice>0</triplesPrice>
    <quadsPrice>0</quadsPrice>
    
  </date>
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    <day>11</day>
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  </date>
  <date>
    <day>8</day>
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    <triplesPrice>0</triplesPrice>
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  <date>
    <day>22</day>
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    <year>2010</year>
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    <month>10</month>
    <year>2010</year>
    <singlesPrice>8482</singlesPrice>
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    <quadsPrice>0</quadsPrice>
    
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    <doublesPrice>7690</doublesPrice>
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  <date>
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    <quadsPrice>0</quadsPrice>
    
  </date>

</departureDates>

</tour><tour>
  <sourceId>LI2010</sourceId>
  <title>Iceland: Land of Fire and Ice</title>
  <summary>
    <![CDATA[		
New for 2010!
 This exciting 7-night cruise aboard the new-for-2010 yacht Le Boreal, explores cosmopolitan Reykjavik, picturesque fishing villages and a remote island farm amidst the incomparable natural wonders found in Iceland. See fjords ringed by mountains; stroll atop black lava landscapes; view sulphur fields, glaciers, spouting geysers and majestic waterfalls; and soak in a thermally heated lagoon.

]]>
  </summary>
  <description>
    <![CDATA[Come with us on the new-for-2010 Iceland: Land of Fire and Ice 8-day cruise around Iceland aboard stylish Le Boreal, a new, yacht-like small ship, and get to know surprising Iceland as few people do. Iceland – a land of volcanoes and glaciers… epic sagas, heroic legends and a rich history… elves and spirits… puffins and whales… home to the world’s first legislative parliament convened in 930 AD, the northernmost golf course in the world and the most northerly capital city… and a human population of only a little over 300,000 people in a country approximately the size of Kentucky. Tauck’s Iceland cruise sails from sophisticated Reykjavik to off-the-beaten-track towns, tiny villages and islands populated by just a handful of people. Bird watchers will be delighted by all the opportunities to observe puffins, arctic terns and other species that thrive in Iceland and history lovers will find much of interest in Iceland’s story. During your Iceland cruise, you’ll experience it all from the comfort of lovely Le Boreal, a ship small enough to provide a truly intimate cruise experience yet large enough to provide amenities usually found only on large cruise ships. All staterooms and suites have ocean views and 95% have private balconies. Tauck’s new Iceland cruise is an enriching vacation experience!
]]>
  </description>
  <link>http://www.tauck.com/tours/europe-tours/iceland-cruise-li-2010</link>
  <durationDays>8</durationDays>
  <durationDetails>8 days and 7 nights.</durationDetails>
  <tripType>ESCORTED_TOUR</tripType>
  <brand>TauckAtSea</brand>
  <subbrand>Tauck at Sea</subbrand>
  <gradeRating>ALL_AGES</gradeRating>
  <comfortRating>COMFORTABLE_MIXED</comfortRating>
  <startingLocation>Reykjavik, Iceland</startingLocation>
  <prices>
    <price currency="USD">5790</price>
    <priceDetails><![CDATA[All prices are per person in U.S. dollars. ]]></priceDetails>
  </prices>
  <images>
    <image isMain="true">http://tools.tauck.com/Files/ItineraryImages/ListImages/img_LI2010_list.jpg</image>
    <image>http://tools.tauck.com/Files/ItineraryImages/altImages/LI2010_alt1.jpg</image>
    <image>http://tools.tauck.com/Files/ItineraryImages/altImages/LI2010_alt2.jpg</image>
    <image>http://tools.tauck.com/Files/ItineraryImages/altImages/LI2010_alt3.jpg</image>
    <image isMap="true">http://tools.tauck.com/Files/ItineraryImages/MapImages/map_LI2010.jpg</image>
  </images>
  <itinerary>
    <![CDATA[New for 2010! Cruise around Iceland aboard the stylish yacht-like Le Boreal, and get to know the country as few people do – from sophisticated Reykjavik to off-the-beaten-track towns and villages – a land of volcanoes, fjords, and glaciers, whales and puffins, epic sagas and heroic legends, in a stunning arctic landscape.

• = cruise day

• 1. Arrive Reykjavik / Embark Ship
Tour begins: 2:30 PM, Reykjavik. A transfer is included upon arrival at Reykjavik’s Keflavik International Airport to the Grand Hotel Reykjavik or the Hilton Reykjavik Nordica where a day room has been reserved for you. Meet your fellow travelers at our welcome reception and lunch high atop the city’s geothermal water towers at the glass-domed Perlan Restaurant, renowned for its cuisine and 360-degree revolving views of the city. An orientation tour of landmark sights after lunch includes Old Town and a guided visit to the National Museum. Embark Le Boreal in Hafnarfjördur this afternoon for the start of your small-ship cruise in “the land of fire and ice.” Your handsomely appointed, outside-facing accommodations promise memorable views of Iceland’s mystical landscapes. Meals LD

• 2. Fishing Villages &amp; Fjords
With ice-caps, glaciers and geysers, thundering waterfalls and forested fjords, along with vast open spaces that are home to a pristine wilderness teeming with volcanoes, Iceland welcomes nature enthusiasts with open arms – and clean air. Dock today in Grundarfjordur, nestled on the banks of a fjord and ringed with mountains, for a scenic drive along the rugged coast. Pass through fishing villages bustling with daily life on the way to Djúpalónssandur. Strange rock formations tower over the Atlantic shores here and have become the basis for many of Iceland’s time-honored sagas; learn more about the traditional stories that tell tales of the country’s early settlers, trials and tribulations during your visit, including how these rocks were used in strength competitions between local fishermen. Your journey continues to Arnarstapi, a favorite resting place for myriad birds en route to warmer lands, and to Budir, famed for its beautiful black lava landscapes and uncommon golden-sand beach. Dine aboard ship tonight as Le Boreal charts a course for the Arctic Circle. Meals BLD

• 3. Explore Grímsey on the Arctic Circle 
Remote and weather beaten, the tiny island of Grímsey – just 2 1/2 miles by 1 1/4 miles – guards the Arctic Circle with huge colonies of seabirds and a scant population of hardy islanders said to consistently number about 100 residents. Step ashore for a walking tour to see the arctic terns and whimsical puffins that live here and walk across the Arctic Circle line – a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Hear the tongue-in-cheek tale of the local minister whose house and bed were cut through the middle by the Circle, creating a great divide between him and his wife. Perhaps you’ll receive some pointers on the art of chess playing, a skill handed down from early Viking settlers in the 9th-century and very much a part of island life today. Cruise the Greenland Sea and the Eyjarfjördur fjord to Akureyri. Despite its location just 60 miles from the Arctic Circle, the town boasts a spectacular setting in view of snow-tipped granite mountains and some of the warmest weather in the country. Meals BLD

• 4. Attractions Around Akureyri
Le Boreal docks this morning in the beautiful town of Akureyri, one of Iceland’s major trading posts. Spend the day exploring the countryside around Lake Myvatn, named a national conservation area in 1974 for its large waterfowl population and nesting areas for breeding ducks. Guided sightseeing takes you to the sulphur fields at Namaskard, the giant lava field at Dimmuborgir and the shorefront Skutustadir. Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant and follow the Ring Road to the powerful waterfall, Godafoss, known to locals as “the falls of the gods” and star of the Kristni Saga, banishing paganism and welcoming Christianity into the land in 1000 AD. Return to Akureyri and have cocktails and dinner aboard ship. Meals BLD

• 5. Cultural Gems &amp; Island Life
Magnificent mountain scenery dominates the landscapes that surround Iceland’s western fjords, enriching your visit to Isafjordur. Dock in the town’s fishing center for a day of cultural discoveries. Go inside a turf-roofed fisherman’s hut at Osvor Msueum for a glimpse into the life of an Icelandic fisherman. As a special treat, cruise to Vigur Island, home to the same family since 1884, for a close-up look at their unique lifestyle, passed from one generation to the next. Your hosts will be serving homemade island refreshments for an authentic taste of local fare. Meals BLD

• 6. Heimaey / Surtsey Island
Welcome to Westmann Islands, the “islands of the western men,” so named for a group of rebellious slaves whose daring, albeit short lived, escape from captivity in ancient Iceland is still the stuff of legends on these volcanic shores. Come ashore on Heimaey for a day of exploration that includes a visit to Sprangan cliff, where young islanders are taught the sport of rope-swinging and cliff-side egg-collecting, the farmhouse ruins of Herjolfsbaer, and a stop at Storhöfdi, home to the island’s largest colony of puffins and an incredible vantage point for breathtaking views of the island and the massive glaciers of the mainland (weather permitting). The volcanic eruption of Mt. Eldfell in 1973 spewed lava over the island landscapes, creating the youngest mountain in the world and the new “Pompeii” of the north. A walk around the crater rewards with spectacular views and a cruise to an island cliff offers an opportunity to see puffins, weather permitting. This evening, Le Boreal circumnavigates one of the world’s newest islands, Surtsey Island, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Meals BLD

• 7. Reykjavik’s Golden Circle
Embark on a tour of the “Golden Circle,” encompassing the country’s “Big Three” landmark sights. Visit breathtaking Thingvellir National Park – named a UNESCO World Heritage Site, it is also Iceland’s most important historic landmark as it is where the Vikings established the world’s first democratic parliament, the Alping, in 930 AD. View magnificent Gullfoss waterfalls, dropping down 96 feet in two roaring falls and arched with rainbows. Continue on to the spouting hot springs of Geysir, where many of its geysers erupt with clockwork precision in impressive flumes. Schedule permitting, stop at a power plant to learn how Iceland’s natural resources are put to work before arriving back at the ship for your last night aboard Le Boreal. Meals BLD

8. Disembark Ship / Journey Home
A parade of natural wonders awaits on this morning’s drive from the town of Hafnarfjördur, nestled atop a lava flow, and enchanting Kleifarvatn Lake to the geothermal fields of Krysuvik-Solfataras, the volcanic plateau of Reykjanes and the incomparable Blue Lagoon. Schedule permitting, take a dip in the healing waters of the lagoon before joining us for a farewell lunch in the Lava Restaurant. Visit the newly built Viking Museum and the Viking ship, Islendingur, a full seaworthy replica of an ancient 70-crew Viking vessel, on your way to the airport. Tour ends: 2:30 PM at Reykjavik’s Keflavik International Airport. Allow a minimum of 2 1/2 hours for check-in. Meals BL
]]>
  </itinerary>
  <itineraryDetails>
    <itineraryDay day="1">
  <title>Arrive Reykjavik / Embark Ship</title>
  <description>Tour begins: 2:30 PM, Reykjavik.  A transfer is included upon arrival at Reykjavik&apos;s Keflavik International Airport to the Grand Hotel Reykjavik or the Hilton Reykjavik Nordica where a day room has been reserved for you.  Meet your fellow travelers at our welcome reception and lunch high atop the city&apos;s geothermal water towers at the glass-domed Perlan Restaurant, renowned for its cuisine and 360-degree revolving views of the city.  An orientation tour of landmark sights after lunch includes Old Town and a guided visit to the National Museum.  Embark Le Boreal in Hafnarfjördur this afternoon for the start of your small-ship cruise in “the land of fire and ice.” Your handsomely appointed, outside-facing accommodations promise memorable views of Iceland&apos;s mystical landscapes.</description>
  <overnight>Aboard Le Boreal</overnight>
  <meals>Lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="2">
  <title>Fishing Villages &amp; Fjords</title>
  <description>With ice-caps, glaciers and geysers, thundering waterfalls and forested fjords, along with vast open spaces that are home to a pristine wilderness teeming with volcanoes, Iceland welcomes nature enthusiasts with open arms - and clean air.  Dock today in Grundarfjordur, nestled on the banks of a fjord and ringed with mountains, for a scenic drive along the rugged coast.  Pass through fishing villages bustling with daily life on the way to Djðpalónssandur.  Strange rock formations tower over the Atlantic shores here and have become the basis for many of Iceland&apos;s time-honored sagas; learn more about the traditional stories that tell tales of the country&apos;s early settlers, trials and tribulations during your visit, including how these rocks were used in strength competitions between local fishermen.  Your journey continues to Arnarstapi, a favorite resting place for myriad birds en route to warmer lands, and to Budir, famed for its beautiful black lava landscapes and uncommon golden-sand beach.  Dine aboard ship tonight as Le Boreal charts a course for the Arctic Circle.</description>
  <overnight>Aboard Le Boreal</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="3">
  <title>Explore Gr&amp;#237;msey on the Arctic Circle </title>
  <description>Remote and weather beaten, the tiny island of Grímsey - just 2 1/2 miles by 1 1/4 miles - guards the Arctic Circle with huge colonies of seabirds and a scant population of hardy islanders said to consistently number about 100 residents.  Step ashore for a walking tour to see the arctic terns and whimsical puffins that live here and walk across the Arctic Circle line - a once-in-a-lifetime experience.  Hear the tongue-in-cheek tale of the local minister whose house and bed were cut through the middle by the Circle, creating a great divide between him and his wife.  Perhaps you&apos;ll receive some pointers on the art of chess playing, a skill handed down from early Viking settlers in the 9th-century and very much a part of island life today.  Cruise the Greenland Sea and the Eyjarfjördur fjord to Akureyri.  Despite its location just 60 miles from the Arctic Circle, the town boasts a spectacular setting in view of snow-tipped granite mountains and some of the warmest weather in the country.</description>
  <overnight>Aboard Le Boreal</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="4">
  <title>Attractions Around Akureyri</title>
  <description>Le Boreal docks this morning in the beautiful town of Akureyri, one of Iceland&apos;s major trading posts.  Spend the day exploring the countryside around Lake Myvatn, named a national conservation area in 1974 for its large waterfowl population and nesting areas for breeding ducks.  Guided sightseeing takes you to the sulphur fields at Namaskard, the giant lava field at Dimmuborgir and the shorefront Skutustadir.  Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant and follow the Ring Road to the powerful waterfall, Godafoss, known to locals as “the falls of the gods” and star of the Kristni Saga, banishing paganism and welcoming Christianity into the land in 1000 AD.  Return to Akureyri and have cocktails and dinner aboard ship.</description>
  <overnight>Aboard Le Boreal</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="5">
  <title>Cultural Gems &amp; Island Life</title>
  <description>Magnificent mountain scenery dominates the landscapes that surround Iceland&apos;s western fjords, enriching your visit to Isafjordur.  Dock in the town&apos;s fishing center for a day of cultural discoveries.  Go inside a turf-roofed fisherman&apos;s hut at Osvor Msueum for a glimpse into the life of an Icelandic fisherman.  As a special treat, cruise to Vigur Island, home to the same family since 1884, for a close-up look at their unique lifestyle, passed from one generation to the next.  Your hosts will be serving homemade island refreshments for an authentic taste of local fare.</description>
  <overnight>Aboard Le Boreal</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="6">
  <title>Heimaey / Surtsey Island</title>
  <description>Welcome to Westmann Islands, the “islands of the western men,” so named for a group of rebellious slaves whose daring, albeit short lived, escape from captivity in ancient Iceland is still the stuff of legends on these volcanic shores.  Come ashore on Heimaey for a day of exploration that includes a visit to Sprangan cliff, where young islanders are taught the sport of rope-swinging and cliff-side egg-collecting, the farmhouse ruins of Herjolfsbaer, and a stop at Storhöfdi, home to the island&apos;s largest colony of puffins and an incredible vantage point for breathtaking views of the island and the massive glaciers of the mainland (weather permitting).  The volcanic eruption of Mt.  Eldfell in 1973 spewed lava over the island landscapes, creating the youngest mountain in the world and the new “Pompeii” of the north.  A walk around the crater rewards with spectacular views and a cruise to an island cliff offers an opportunity to see puffins, weather permitting.  This evening, Le Boreal circumnavigates one of the world&apos;s newest islands, Surtsey Island, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.</description>
  <overnight>Aboard Le Boreal</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="7">
  <title>Reykjavik&apos;s Golden Circle</title>
  <description>Embark on a tour of the “Golden Circle,” encompassing the country&apos;s “Big Three” landmark sights.  Visit breathtaking Thingvellir National Park - named a UNESCO World Heritage Site, it is also Iceland&apos;s most important historic landmark as it is where the Vikings established the world&apos;s first democratic parliament, the Alping, in 930 AD.  View magnificent Gullfoss waterfalls, dropping down 96 feet in two roaring falls and arched with rainbows.  Continue on to the spouting hot springs of Geysir, where many of its geysers erupt with clockwork precision in impressive flumes.  Schedule permitting, stop at a power plant to learn how Iceland&apos;s natural resources are put to work before arriving back at the ship for your last night aboard Le Boreal.</description>
  <overnight>Aboard Le Boreal</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="8">
  <title>Disembark Ship / Journey Home</title>
  <description>A parade of natural wonders awaits on this morning’s drive from the town of Hafnarfjördur, nestled atop a lava flow, and enchanting Kleifarvatn Lake to the geothermal fields of Krysuvik-Solfataras, the volcanic plateau of Reykjanes and the incomparable Blue Lagoon. Schedule permitting, take a dip in the healing waters of the lagoon before joining us for a farewell lunch in the Lava Restaurant. Visit the newly built Viking Museum and the Viking ship, Islendingur, a full seaworthy replica of an ancient 70-crew Viking vessel, on your way to the airport. Tour ends: 2:30 PM at Reykjavik’s Keflavik International Airport. Allow a minimum of 2 1/2 hours for check-in.</description>
  <overnight></overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch</meals>
</itineraryDay>
  </itineraryDetails>
  <highlights></highlights>
  <tauckValues>
    <value order="1">Gratuities to Tauck Director, ship staff and local guides</value><value order="2">Cruise aboard Le Boreal, newly launched in 2010, with on-board naturalists who share expert insights</value><value order="3">Private Tauck Shore Excursions  $1,355 Value!</value><value order="4">Walk across the Arctic Circle line on a tour of remote Grmsey Island and see arctic terns and puffins</value><value order="5">Private visit to Vigur Island where a tour of a historic family-owned farm offers a taste of daily life and an in-depth visit to Thingvellir National Park</value><value order="6">Golden Circle tour of Reykjavik and a visit to the Blue Lagoon, boasting thermally heated water</value><value order="7">Cocktail hour, all-day soft drinks, wine with dinner aboard ship</value><value order="8">All meals (7 breakfasts, 8 lunches, 7 dinners), including lunch at the revolving Perlan Restaurant</value><value order="9">Service charges, applicable fuel surcharges, taxes, porterage and airport transfers</value>
  </tauckValues>  
  <departureDates>
    <date>
    <day>29</day>
    <month>7</month>
    <year>2010</year>
    <singlesPrice>7190</singlesPrice>
    <doublesPrice>5790</doublesPrice>
    <triplesPrice>4521</triplesPrice>
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  <categoryCode>LI 20101</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>1</occupancy>
  <description>Superior Cabin - Deck 3</description>
  <suppliment>0</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>7190</totalPrice>
</cabin>
<cabin>
  <categoryCode>LI 20101</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>2</occupancy>
  <description>Superior Cabin - Deck 3</description>
  <suppliment>0</suppliment>
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  <categoryCode>LI 20101</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>3</occupancy>
  <description>Superior Cabin - Deck 3</description>
  <suppliment>0</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>4521</totalPrice>
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  <occupancy>1</occupancy>
  <description>Deluxe Cabin - Deck 3</description>
  <suppliment>375</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>7565</totalPrice>
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  <occupancy>2</occupancy>
  <description>Deluxe Cabin - Deck 3</description>
  <suppliment>375</suppliment>
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<cabin>
  <categoryCode>LI 20103</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>1</occupancy>
  <description>Prestige Cabin - Deck 4</description>
  <suppliment>1178</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>8368</totalPrice>
</cabin>
<cabin>
  <categoryCode>LI 20103</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>2</occupancy>
  <description>Prestige Cabin - Deck 4</description>
  <suppliment>750</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>6540</totalPrice>
</cabin>
<cabin>
  <categoryCode>LI 20104</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>1</occupancy>
  <description>Prestige Cabin - Deck 5</description>
  <suppliment>1368</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>8558</totalPrice>
</cabin>
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  <categoryCode>LI 20104</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>2</occupancy>
  <description>Prestige Cabin - Deck 5</description>
  <suppliment>940</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>6730</totalPrice>
</cabin>
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  <categoryCode>LI 20105</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>1</occupancy>
  <description>Prestige Cabin - Deck 6</description>
  <suppliment>1553</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>8743</totalPrice>
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  <categoryCode>LI 20105</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>2</occupancy>
  <description>Prestige Cabin - Deck 6</description>
  <suppliment>1125</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>6915</totalPrice>
</cabin>
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  <categoryCode>LI 20106</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>1</occupancy>
  <description>Deluxe Suite - Deck 6</description>
  <suppliment>0</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>7190</totalPrice>
</cabin>
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  <categoryCode>LI 20106</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>2</occupancy>
  <description>Deluxe Suite - Deck 6</description>
  <suppliment>2060</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>7850</totalPrice>
</cabin>
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  <categoryCode>LI 20107</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>1</occupancy>
  <description>Prestige Suite - Deck 5</description>
  <suppliment>0</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>7190</totalPrice>
</cabin>
<cabin>
  <categoryCode>LI 20107</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>2</occupancy>
  <description>Prestige Suite - Deck 5</description>
  <suppliment>2995</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>8785</totalPrice>
</cabin>
<cabin>
  <categoryCode>LI 20107</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>3</occupancy>
  <description>Prestige Suite - Deck 5</description>
  <suppliment>1997</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>6518</totalPrice>
</cabin>
<cabin>
  <categoryCode>LI 20108</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>1</occupancy>
  <description>Prestige Suite - Deck 6</description>
  <suppliment>0</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>7190</totalPrice>
</cabin>
<cabin>
  <categoryCode>LI 20108</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>2</occupancy>
  <description>Prestige Suite - Deck 6</description>
  <suppliment>3370</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>9160</totalPrice>
</cabin>
<cabin>
  <categoryCode>LI 20108</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>3</occupancy>
  <description>Prestige Suite - Deck 6</description>
  <suppliment>2247</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>6768</totalPrice>
</cabin></cabins>
  </date>

</departureDates>

</tour><tour>
  <sourceId>MI2010</sourceId>
  <title>Michigan&apos;s Lakes &amp; Mackinac Island</title>
  <summary>
    <![CDATA[Explore the region famed for its 11,000 inland lakes and 36,000 miles of rivers and streams on Tauck&apos;s comprehensive Michigan tour, featuring two-night stays at the world-famous Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island and the award-winning Grand Traverse Resort &amp; Spa.
]]>
  </summary>
  <description>
    <![CDATA[Get set for a Michigan tour through beautiful countryside and along panoramic beaches with sand dunes stretching along Lake Michigan. Take a private sail on a tall ship up the Saginaw River and a private horse-drawn carriage tour on Mackinac Island, where you&apos;ll spend two nights at the famed Grand Hotel. Explore history on a privately guided tour of The Henry Ford in Greenfield Village – with a ride on a Model T... discover fine Michigan wines at a private tasting at Black Star Farms... enjoy &quot;Tower&quot; rooms at the Grand Traverse Resort, and much more on Tauck&apos;s merry Michigan tour!
]]>
  </description>
  <link>http://www.tauck.com/tours/usa-tours/southern-usa-travel/michigan-tour-mi-2010</link>
  <durationDays>8</durationDays>
  <durationDetails>8 days and 7 nights.</durationDetails>
  <tripType>ESCORTED_TOUR</tripType>
  <brand>TWD</brand>
  <subbrand>USA and Canada</subbrand>
  <gradeRating>ALL_AGES</gradeRating>
  <comfortRating>COMFORTABLE_MIXED</comfortRating>
  <startingLocation>Traverse City, Michigan</startingLocation>
  <prices>
    <price currency="USD">2490</price>
    <priceDetails><![CDATA[All prices are per person in U.S. dollars. ]]></priceDetails>
  </prices>
  <images>
    <image isMain="true">http://tools.tauck.com/Files/ItineraryImages/ListImages/img_MI2010_list.jpg</image>
    <image>http://tools.tauck.com/Files/ItineraryImages/altImages/MI2010_alt1.jpg</image>
    <image>http://tools.tauck.com/Files/ItineraryImages/altImages/MI2010_alt2.jpg</image>
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  </images>
  <itinerary>
    <![CDATA[1. Arrive Traverse City
Tour begins: Grand Traverse Resort &amp; Spa at 6:30 PM. A transfer is included from the Cherry Capital Airport to the Grand Traverse Resort &amp; Spa, set amidst 900 acres near Traverse City. Join us tonight for a welcome cocktail reception and dinner at your award-winning resort, named among the Top 50 golf resorts by Condé Nast Traveler. Meals D

2. Great Lake Dunes, Wine &amp; Music
Visit the Music House Museum, showcasing antique musical instruments and music-making machines, then journey along Michigan’s west coast. Drive through Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore for great views of the protected 35-mile-long shoreline – ranging in color from pale champagne to burnt sienna, the dunes roll and spike up to 400 ft. A private wine tasting this afternoon at Black Star Farms celebrates the season’s fruits of the vine; tonight, savor the bounty of the land during a private winery dinner for Tauck guests only. Meals BD

3. Straits of Mackinac / Mackinac Island
A scenic drive along the lake leads to the Straits of Mackinac and a visit to quaint Petoskey, then on to Fort Michilimackinac. Built by the French in 1715, the fort is a reconstruction of life in the 18th century. Take an afternoon ferry to Mackinac Island, accessible only by boat or plane, then climb aboard a horse-drawn carriage as you are transported back to the Victorian era of the late 1800s and the island’s Grand Hotel, one of the most celebrated hotels in America. Meals BLD

4. Mackinac Island, Somewhere in Time
Mackinac Island measures just two miles by three miles, and is almost as unspoiled as it was when the first Europeans arrived three centuries ago. Visitors and residents travel by foot, bicycle or horse-drawn carriage; no motorized vehicles are allowed. Join us for a private tour of the island by horse-drawn carriage, a tradition dating back to the mid-19th century. Visit Fort Mackinac, standing watch over the Straits of Mackinac for more than 220 years. The remainder of the day is at leisure to enjoy as you wish. Meals BD

5. Midland / Bay City
Journey to Midland for a tour of architect Alden B. Dow‚’s home. The son of the founder of Dow Chemical Company, Dow shared Frank Lloyd Wright’s architectural design philosophies; his home was designated a National Historic Landmark. Spend the night on the east bank of the Saginaw River in the heart of historic downtown Bay City. Meals BLD

6. Saginaw Bay / Frankenmuth
Take a private sail aboard a masted ”Tall Ship” schooner on a narrated cruise up the Saginaw River to Saginaw Bay on Lake Huron. Continue on to Bavarian-inspired Frankenmuth for lunch and time at leisure; your final destination is Dearborn, epicenter of the automobile. Meals BLD

7. Dearborn / Explore The Henry Ford
Spend the day exploring The Henry Ford on a privately guided visit through living history exhibits dedicated to the American experience, including Greenfield Village and the Henry Ford Museum – with a ride on a Model T! Witness the growth of America between 1800 and 1950 – a story told with restored examples of trains, planes and motorcars; a one-room schoolhouse, tavern and gristmill. The afternoon is free for you to explore on your own. Please join us for a farewell reception and dinner tonight. Meals BD

8. Journey Home
Tour ends: Detroit. Fly home anytime; a transfer is included to the Detroit Airport from the Dearborn Inn. Allow two hours for flight check-in. Meals B
]]>
  </itinerary>
  <itineraryDetails>
    <itineraryDay day="1">
  <title>Arrive Traverse City</title>
  <description>Tour begins: Grand Traverse Resort &amp; Spa at 6:30 PM.  A transfer is included from the Cherry Capital Airport to the Grand Traverse Resort &amp; Spa, set amidst 900 acres near Traverse City.  Join us tonight for a welcome cocktail reception and dinner at your award&amp;#45;winning resort, named among the Top 50 golf resorts by Cond&amp;#233; Nast Traveler.  Meals D</description>
  <overnight>Grand Traverse Resort &amp; Spa, Traverse City, Michigan</overnight>
  <meals>Dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="2">
  <title>Great Lake Dunes, Wine &amp; Music</title>
  <description>Visit the Music House Museum, showcasing antique musical instruments and music&amp;#45;making machines, then journey along Michigan&apos;s west coast.  Drive through Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore for great views of the protected 35&amp;#45;mile&amp;#45;long shoreline &amp;#45; ranging in color from pale champagne to burnt sienna, the dunes roll and spike up to 400 ft.  A private wine tasting this afternoon at Black Star Farms celebrates the season&apos;s fruits of the vine; tonight, savor the bounty of the land during a private winery dinner for Tauck guests only.  Meals BD</description>
  <overnight>Grand Traverse Resort &amp; Spa, Traverse City, Michigan</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="3">
  <title>Straits of Mackinac / Mackinac Island</title>
  <description>A scenic drive along the lake leads to the Straits of Mackinac and a visit to quaint Petoskey, then on to Fort Michilimackinac.  Built by the French in 1715, the fort is a reconstruction of life in the 18th century.  Take an afternoon ferry to Mackinac Island, accessible only by boat or plane, then climb aboard a horse&amp;#45;drawn carriage as you are transported back to the Victorian era of the late 1800s and the island&apos;s Grand Hotel, one of the most celebrated hotels in America.  Meals BLD</description>
  <overnight>Grand Hotel, Mackinac Island, Michigan</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="4">
  <title>Mackinac Island, Somewhere in Time</title>
  <description>Mackinac Island measures just two miles by three miles, and is almost as unspoiled as it was when the first Europeans arrived three centuries ago.  Visitors and residents travel by foot, bicycle or horse&amp;#45;drawn carriage; no motorized vehicles are allowed.  Join us for a private tour of the island by horse&amp;#45;drawn carriage, a tradition dating back to the mid&amp;#45;19th century.  Visit Fort Mackinac, standing watch over the Straits of Mackinac for more than 220 years.  The remainder of the day is at leisure to enjoy as you wish.  Meals BD</description>
  <overnight>Grand Hotel, Mackinac Island, Michigan</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="5">
  <title>Midland / Bay City</title>
  <description>Journey to Midland for a tour of architect Alden B.  Dow‚&apos;s home.  The son of the founder of Dow Chemical Company, Dow shared Frank Lloyd Wright&apos;s architectural design philosophies; his home was designated a National Historic Landmark.  Spend the night on the east bank of the Saginaw River in the heart of historic downtown Bay City.  Meals BLD</description>
  <overnight>Doubletree Hotel Bay City – Riverfront, Bay City, Michigan</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="6">
  <title>Saginaw Bay / Frankenmuth</title>
  <description>Take a private sail aboard a masted ”Tall Ship” schooner on a narrated cruise up the Saginaw River to Saginaw Bay on Lake Huron.  Continue on to Bavarian&amp;#45;inspired Frankenmuth for lunch and time at leisure; your final destination is Dearborn, epicenter of the automobile.  Meals BLD</description>
  <overnight>The Dearborn Inn, A Marriott Hotel, Dearborn, Michigan</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="7">
  <title>Dearborn / Explore The Henry Ford</title>
  <description>Spend the day exploring The Henry Ford on a privately guided visit through living history exhibits dedicated to the American experience, including Greenfield Village and the Henry Ford Museum &amp;#45; with a ride on a Model T! Witness the growth of America between 1800 and 1950 &amp;#45; a story told with restored examples of trains, planes and motorcars; a one&amp;#45;room schoolhouse, tavern and gristmill.  The afternoon is free for you to explore on your own.  Please join us for a farewell reception and dinner tonight.  Meals BD</description>
  <overnight>The Dearborn Inn, A Marriott Hotel, Dearborn, Michigan</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="8">
  <title>Journey Home</title>
  <description>Tour ends: Detroit. Fly home anytime; a transfer is included to the Detroit Airport from the Dearborn Inn. Allow two hours for flight check-in.</description>
  <overnight></overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast</meals>
</itineraryDay>
  </itineraryDetails>
  <highlights>
		Mackinac Island ~ Sleeping Bear  Dunes ~ Saginaw Bay ~ Frankenmuth ~ Dearborn ~ The Henry Ford 
</highlights>
  <tauckValues>
    <value order="1">Tower rooms at the Grand Traverse Resort &amp; Spa, indulging with luxurious appointments and scenic views of lush forests, rolling hills and orchards</value><value order="2">Private wine tasting and dinner at Black Star Farms, whose winery and distillery produce some of the best Michigan wines and spirits</value><value order="3">Private horse-drawn carriage tour of Mackinac Island and two nights at the Grand Hotel, one of Americas favorite hotels</value><value order="4">Private sail on a Tall Ship schooner for a narrated cruise up the Saginaw River to Saginaw Bay with a maritime lecture</value><value order="5">Privately guided tour of The Henry Ford for a fascinating in-depth look at American ingenuity between 1800 and 1950, culminating with a ride aboard a Model T</value><value order="6">Airport transfers upon arrival and departure as noted; 17 meals, service charges, gratuities to local guides, admission fees, taxes and porterage</value>
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</tour><tour>
  <sourceId>MO2010</sourceId>
  <title>Road to Morocco</title>
  <summary>
    <![CDATA[		
From Casablanca to Marrakech, discover a kaleidoscope of cultural treasures, brilliant colors, treasured architecture and centuries of world history on Tauck&apos;s Morocco tour.
]]>
  </summary>
  <description>
    <![CDATA[Come with us to the kasbahs… and the medieval medinas and the bustling souks on Tauck’s 9-day Road to Morocco tour. A diverse cultural kaleidoscope of Berber, European and Islamic influences, Morocco has a fascinating history and rich, exotic traditions that continue to shape life in the 21st century. From fabled Casablanca to the four Imperial cities of Rabat, Meknes, Fes and Marrakech, ancient Morocco reveals its many faces, and present-day Morocco embraces the future on an incredible journey of discovery. Visit an astounding contemporary mosque that is the largest outside Mecca and view monuments and sacred places dating back a thousand years. Explore mighty kasbah fortresses and age-old medina towns. Wander through the maze-like souks, taking in the sights, sounds and smells of daily life in these bustling markets. Admire splendid riads, lavish houses built by the wealthy a century or more ago, and be invited into a private home to experience how the Berbers of Morocco live today. As you travel from the Atlantic seacoast to the edge of the Sahara Desert on Tauck’s Morocco tour, you’ll stay at the best hotels and enjoy a variety of intriguing dining experiences that provide a taste of Moroccan cuisine as you discover marvelous Morocco in Tauck Style.
]]>
  </description>
  <link>http://www.tauck.com/tours/africa-travel/morocco-tour-mo-2010</link>
  <durationDays>9</durationDays>
  <durationDetails>9 days and 8 nights.</durationDetails>
  <tripType>ESCORTED_TOUR</tripType>
  <brand>TWD</brand>
  <subbrand>Exotics</subbrand>
  <gradeRating>ALL_AGES</gradeRating>
  <comfortRating>COMFORTABLE_MIXED</comfortRating>
  <startingLocation>Casablanca, Morocco</startingLocation>
  <prices>
    <price currency="USD">3590</price>
    <priceDetails><![CDATA[All prices are per person in U.S. dollars. ]]></priceDetails>
  </prices>
  <images>
    <image isMain="true">http://tools.tauck.com/Files/ItineraryImages/ListImages/img_MO2010_list.jpg</image>
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    <image>http://tools.tauck.com/Files/ItineraryImages/altImages/MO2010_alt2.jpg</image>
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  </images>
  <itinerary>
    <![CDATA[Flying to Morocco 

Most overnight international flights arrive in Casablanca between 10:00 AM and 5:00 PM local time, which is 5 hours ahead of U.S. Eastern Standard Time. To ease the effects of jet lag, you may want to consider traveling to Morocco a day early. Tauck can book your international flights for travel originating in the United States, including arranging an additional night at the Hyatt Regency Casablanca for the evening before your Moroccan journey begins, giving you time to rest and relax. Ask for details upon booking.

1. Arrive Casablanca
Tour begins: Hyatt Regency Casablanca at 6:00 PM. A transfer is included from Casablanca Mohammed V Int’l Airport to the Hyatt Regency Casablanca in the heart of Morocco’s largest city, where past meets present in a colorful kaleidoscope of cultural treasures. Your adventure begins with tonight’s welcome reception and dinner. Meals D

2. City Sightseeing / Journey to Rabat
Today’s guided sightseeing shows you the modern side of Casablanca, Morocco’s economic center. View the United Nations Square and local neighborhoods, and go inside the Hassan II Mosque, extending out over the Atlantic Ocean. Built in 1993 by King Hassan II so that “the faithful who go there to praise the creator on firm soil can contemplate God’s sky and ocean,” and evoking Spain’s Alhambra and La Mezquita, it is the third-largest mosque in the world – and one of the few in Morocco open to non-Muslims; your tour includes the hammam and the absolution room. Casablanca has been forever romanticized by the famous 1942 film of the same name, and what could be better than lunch in Rick’s Cafe – a re-creation of the mythical saloon owned by Rick Blaine, played by Humphrey Bogart. Continue on to Rabat along the Atlantic coastline; a walking tour of the impregnable Oudaya Kasbah and the Andalucían gardens offers a glimpse of the city’s rich history. Dine à la carte tonight at a fine Moroccan or French restaurant – your choice. Meals BLD

3. Roman Ruins &amp; Markets in Rabat
Domes and minarets grace the skyline of oceanfront Rabat, while its cliff-top kasbah, imposing medina and tree-lined boulevards invite discovery within. Stroll outside of the walled grounds of the Royal Palace, then join us for a walk through the Necropolis of Chellah, sheltering the ruins of a 13th-century mosque and royal burial complex. Visit the Rabat Public Market and the mausoleum of the revered King Mohammed V, and see the towering 12th-century minaret of Hassan Mosque before lunch at a local restaurant featuring Moroccan-style seafood and Atlantic views. Spend the rest of the day exploring Morocco’s capital on your own. Meals BL

4. Imperial Meknes / Volubilis / Fes
The agricultural landscapes of Morocco’s “breadbasket” provide the backdrop for a full day’s journey to Fes, with stops in historic Meknes and Volubilis. Founded in the 10th century, Meknes is nestled between mountains and desert. Remnants of powerful sultans chronicle the history of this imperial walled city in elaborate gateways or babs, and the Granary and Stables, built in the 17th century to house up to 12,000 horses, feature engineering innovations that were remarkable for their time. See them up-close before visiting the Musee Dar Jamaï, showcasing Moroccan art amidst the intricately painted interior décor and courtyard gardens. Continue on to Volubilis, a UNESCO World Heritage Site; guided sightseeing reveals vestiges of Roman urban planning at the Forum, Basilica, and the Triumphal Arch. Arrive in magnificent Fes; your landmark hotel is set in a perfumed Andalucían garden, overlooking Fes el-Bali. Meals BLD

5. Fes, a UNESCO World Heritage Site
Founded in 808 AD, Fes is the best preserved medieval city of the Arab-Islamic world; Tauck’s rooms at the Sofitel Palais Jamaï Fes overlook the Fes medina (Fes el-Bali), barely changed in a thousand years. Your day begins with a lecture on the role of women in Morocco by a noted university professor of women’s studies. A guided tour of the city includes the Fes el-Jedid, the Imperial City of the Merinides, the Mellah, and of course, the famous medina; over 300,000 people still live within its ancient walls. Your local guide navigates you through this labyrinthine maze of souks (shops), navigable only by foot, offering an “inside” look at daily life. See the Bab Boujeloud (the medina’s principal gate), the Bou Inania Medersa, and the Tanneries; and take a peek inside the gates of the Karaouiyine Mosque, established in 859 AD. During your stay, you’ll dine at La Maison Bleue and another local riad. Meals BLD

6. Middle Atlas Mountains / Marrakech
Take in awe-inspiring views of North Africa’s Middle Atlas range on a drive to Marrakech that begins a long but scenic day. Rural landscapes continually change from fruit orchards and farms to country villages and lush alpine valleys; above them, ski resorts and forests of cork and pine thrive. Arrive early evening in Marrakech, the “Pearl of the South,” where Africa meets Arabia under the shadow of the High Atlas Mountains. Surrounded by lush gardens and fountain-filled courtyards, your accommodations for the next three nights at the Sofitel Marrakech Imperial Spa are located in the heart of the city, close to the ancient medina. Meals BLD

7. Souks &amp; Gardens of Marrakech
Encircled by ochre-hued ramparts, Marrakech is an exuberant city of elegant palaces and ornate mansions, snake charmers and colorful souks, where daily life unfolds before you in a parade of sensory delights. Visions of a lush desert oasis become reality during a morning visit to Le Jardin Majorelle. A small botanical garden of bamboo thickets, giant cacti, palms, bougainvillaea and electric-blue gazebos created by the painter Jacques Majorelle, this colorful acreage was more recently owned by the late designer Yves Saint-Laurent. You’ll have an opportunity to tour the painter’s former home, Villa Majorelle, which is now a museum, to see its collection of Moroccan art and crafts. View the iconic Koutoubia Mosque –  one of the largest in the western Muslim world – the 19th-century Bahia Palace, and the ornate Saadian Tombs, renowned for their fine Islamic architecture. A carriage ride through the palm-lined streets of Marrakech leads to mythical Djemâa el Fna Square, alive with Gnaoua musicians, cobra charmers, water carriers, and veiled dancers. Join a local guide for a fascinating walk inside the Marrakech medina to peruse myriad craft shops displaying everything from kilims, slippers and leatherwork to baskets of henna, rainbow-colored herbs and pink, green and black olives. The remainder of the day is free for independent exploration. Meals BL

8. Ourika Valley / Berber Home Visit
Venture outside Marrakech today to the Ourika Valley, the ancestral home of ancient Berber villages that cling to the hillsides with plots of cultivated land lying along the river valley. Go inside a typical home to experience a Moroccan tea demonstration, a rich cultural tradition that’s centuries old, and have lunch in a restaurant managed by local Berber villagers. Back in Marrakech, spend the afternoon exploring as you wish. Cocktails, canapés, and an elegant farewell dinner at a local riad this evening mark a fitting end to a most memorable Moroccan journey. Meals BLD

9. Journey Home
Tour ends: Marrakech. Fly home any time. A transfer from the Sofitel Marrakech Imperial Spa to the Marrakech-Menara Airport is included. Allow a minimum of 21/2 hours for flight check-in. Meals B

]]>
  </itinerary>
  <itineraryDetails>
    <itineraryDay day="1">
  <title>Arrive Casablanca</title>
  <description>Tour begins: Hyatt Regency Casablanca at 6:00 PM. A transfer is included from Casablanca Mohammed V Int’l Airport to the Hyatt Regency Casablanca in the heart of Morocco’s largest city, where past meets present in a colorful kaleidoscope of cultural treasures. Your adventure begins with tonight’s welcome reception and dinner.</description>
  <overnight>Hyatt Regency Casablanca, Casablanca, Morocco</overnight>
  <meals>Dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="2">
  <title>City Sightseeing / Journey to Rabat</title>
  <description>Today’s guided sightseeing shows you the modern side of Casablanca, Morocco’s economic center. View the United Nations Square and local neighborhoods, and go inside the Hassan II Mosque, extending out over the Atlantic Ocean. Built in 1993 by King Hassan II so that “the faithful who go there to praise the creator on firm soil can contemplate God’s sky and ocean,” and evoking Spain’s Alhambra and La Mezquita, it is the third-largest mosque in the world – and one of the few in Morocco open to non-Muslims; your tour includes the hammam and the absolution room. Casablanca has been forever romanticized by the famous 1942 film of the same name, and what could be better than lunch in Rick’s Cafe – a re-creation of the mythical saloon owned by Rick Blaine, played by Humphrey Bogart. Continue on to Rabat along the Atlantic coastline; a walking tour of the impregnable Oudaya Kasbah and the Andalucían gardens offers a glimpse of the city’s rich history. Dine à la carte tonight at a fine Moroccan or French restaurant – your choice.</description>
  <overnight>La Tour Hassan, Rabat, Morocco</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="3">
  <title>Roman Ruins &amp; Markets in Rabat</title>
  <description>Domes and minarets grace the skyline of oceanfront Rabat, while its cliff-top kasbah, imposing medina and tree-lined boulevards invite discovery within. Stroll outside of the walled grounds of the Royal Palace, then join us for a walk through the Necropolis of Chellah, sheltering the ruins of a 13th-century mosque and royal burial complex. Visit the Rabat Public Market and the mausoleum of the revered King Mohammed V, and see the towering 12th-century minaret of Hassan Mosque before lunch at a local restaurant featuring Moroccan-style seafood and Atlantic views. Spend the rest of the day exploring Morocco’s capital on your own.</description>
  <overnight>La Tour Hassan, Rabat, Morocco</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="4">
  <title>Imperial Meknes / Volubilis / Fes</title>
  <description>The agricultural landscapes of Morocco’s “breadbasket” provide the backdrop for a full day’s journey to Fes, with stops in historic Meknes and Volubilis. Founded in the 10th century, Meknes is nestled between mountains and desert. Remnants of powerful sultans chronicle the history of this imperial walled city in elaborate gateways or babs, and the Granary and Stables, built in the 17th century to house up to 12,000 horses, feature engineering innovations that were remarkable for their time. See them up-close before visiting the Musee Dar Jamaï, showcasing Moroccan art amidst the intricately painted interior décor and courtyard gardens. Continue on to Volubilis, a UNESCO World Heritage Site; guided sightseeing reveals vestiges of Roman urban planning at the Forum, Basilica, and the Triumphal Arch. Arrive in magnificent Fes; your landmark hotel is set in a perfumed Andalucían garden, overlooking Fes el-Bali.</description>
  <overnight>Sofitel Palais Jamaï Fes, Morocco</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="5">
  <title>Fes, a UNESCO World Heritage Site</title>
  <description>Founded in 808 AD, Fes is the best preserved medieval city of the Arab-Islamic world; Tauck’s rooms at the Sofitel Palais Jamaï Fes overlook the Fes medina (Fes el-Bali), barely changed in a thousand years. Your day begins with a lecture on the role of women in Morocco by a noted university professor of women’s studies. A guided tour of the city includes the Fes el-Jedid, the Imperial City of the Merinides, the Mellah, and of course, the famous medina; over 300,000 people still live within its ancient walls. Your local guide navigates you through this labyrinthine maze of souks (shops), navigable only by foot, offering an “inside” look at daily life. See the Bab Boujeloud (the medina’s principal gate), the Bou Inania Medersa, and the Tanneries; and take a peek inside the gates of the Karaouiyine Mosque, established in 859 AD. During your stay, you’ll dine at La Maison Bleue and another local riad.</description>
  <overnight>Sofitel Palais Jamaï Fes, Morocco</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="6">
  <title>Middle Atlas Mountains / Marrakech</title>
  <description>Take in awe-inspiring views of North Africa’s Middle Atlas range on a drive to Marrakech that begins a long but scenic day. Rural landscapes continually change from fruit orchards and farms to country villages and lush alpine valleys; above them, ski resorts and forests of cork and pine thrive. Arrive early evening in Marrakech, the “Pearl of the South,” where Africa meets Arabia under the shadow of the High Atlas Mountains. Surrounded by lush gardens and fountain-filled courtyards, your accommodations for the next three nights at the Sofitel Marrakech Imperial Spa are located in the heart of the city, close to the ancient medina.</description>
  <overnight>Sofitel Marrakech Imperial Spa, Marrakech, Morocco</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="7">
  <title>Souks &amp; Gardens of Marrakech</title>
  <description>Encircled by ochre-hued ramparts, Marrakech is an exuberant city of elegant palaces and ornate mansions, snake charmers and colorful souks, where daily life unfolds before you in a parade of sensory delights. Visions of a lush desert oasis become reality during a morning visit to Le Jardin Majorelle. A small botanical garden of bamboo thickets, giant cacti, palms, bougainvillaea and electric-blue gazebos created by the painter Jacques Majorelle, this colorful acreage was more recently owned by the late designer Yves Saint-Laurent. You’ll have an opportunity to tour the painter’s former home, Villa Majorelle, which is now a museum, to see its collection of Moroccan art and crafts. View the iconic Koutoubia Mosque –&amp;nbsp; one of the largest in the western Muslim world – the 19th-century Bahia Palace, and the ornate Saadian Tombs, renowned for their fine Islamic architecture. A carriage ride through the palm-lined streets of Marrakech leads to mythical Djemâa el Fna Square, alive with Gnaoua musicians, cobra charmers, water carriers, and veiled dancers. Join a local guide for a fascinating walk inside the Marrakech medina to peruse myriad craft shops displaying everything from kilims, slippers and leatherwork to baskets of henna, rainbow-colored herbs and pink, green and black olives. The remainder of the day is free for independent exploration.</description>
  <overnight>Sofitel Marrakech Imperial Spa, Marrakech, Morocco</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="8">
  <title>Ourika Valley / Berber Home Visit</title>
  <description>Venture outside Marrakech today to the Ourika Valley, the ancestral home of ancient Berber villages that cling to the hillsides with plots of cultivated land lying along the river valley. Go inside a typical home to experience a Moroccan tea demonstration, a rich cultural tradition that’s centuries old, and have lunch in a restaurant managed by local Berber villagers. Back in Marrakech, spend the afternoon exploring as you wish. Cocktails, canapés, and an elegant farewell dinner at a local riad this evening mark a fitting end to a most memorable Moroccan journey.</description>
  <overnight>Sofitel Marrakech Imperial Spa, Marrakech, Morocco</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="9">
  <title>Journey Home</title>
  <description>Tour ends: Marrakech. Fly home any time. A transfer from the Sofitel Marrakech Imperial Spa to the Marrakech-Menara Airport is included. Allow a minimum of 21/2 hours for flight check-in.</description>
  <overnight></overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast</meals>
</itineraryDay>
  </itineraryDetails>
  <highlights>
		
				
						Casablanca 
				
						~ Rabat ~ Meknes ~ Volubilis ~ Fes ~ Marrakech 
		
</highlights>
  <tauckValues>
    <value order="1">An inside look at daily life in the maze of souks in the ancient medina in Fes, led by a local guide, and a stay in medina-side rooms at Sofitel Palais Jama Fes</value><value order="2">A carriage ride aboard a horse-drawn caleche around the ochre-colored ramparts of Marrakech</value><value order="3">Traditional tea demonstration in a private home in a Berber village in lovely Ourika Valley</value><value order="4">Lunch at Ricks Caf in Casablanca, a re-creation of the mythical saloon featured in the famous 1942 film</value><value order="5">Visit to Le Jardin Majorelle, once owned by designer Yves Saint-Laurent, with admission to Villa Majorelle</value><value order="6">Services of a Moroccan national guide and your Tauck Director in every destination, as well as local guides</value><value order="7">21 meals (8 breakfasts, 7 lunches, 6 dinners) with gratuities to dining staff</value><value order="8">Gratuities to local guides, service charges, admissions fees, taxes, porterage and airport transfers</value>
  </tauckValues>  
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    <date>
    <day>9</day>
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    <triplesPrice>3638</triplesPrice>
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  </date>
  <date>
    <day>18</day>
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  </date>
  <date>
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    <day>24</day>
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    <day>6</day>
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</tour><tour>
  <sourceId>MV2010</sourceId>
  <title>A Week In... Bavaria, The Dolomites &amp; Venice</title>
  <summary>
    <![CDATA[		

New for 2010 – Including the Passion Play! 

- Watch the Passion Play from our premier seating, explore the Dolomites and Lake Garda, and discover the cultural kinship between Innsbruck, Munich, Verona and Venice – on a new Tauck Oberammergau travel experience that takes you from the mountains to the sea!
]]>
  </summary>
  <description>
    <![CDATA[		NEW for 2010 – Including the Passion Play!
The Oberammergau Passion Play – it only happens once every ten years...
attending it is a once-in-a-lifetime experience... and, it’s the
centerpiece of our new A Week In… Bavaria, The Dolomites &amp; Venice
journey, traveling from Bavaria through the Austrian and Italian Alps
and the spectacular Dolomite Mountains to romantic Venice! Along with
the Passion Play (or Passionsspiele),
Tauck&apos;s Oberammergau travel experience offers much more. Spend a night
in Munich, Bavaria’s capital, before continuing on to Oberammergau,
where you’ll spend two nights near the Passion Play performance venue
at the boutique Hotel Maximilian – exclusive to Tauck guests during
your stay – and watch the spectacular Passionsspiele
unfold from Tauck’s premier seats in the best category available.
You&apos;ll also explore Austria’s famous alpine playground, Innsbruck, and
attend a very special evening at a grand castle in the Italian Alps.
The majestic beauty of the Dolomites will enchant you as you ride in a
cable car among the towering peaks and wander through the charming and
historic mountain village of Ortisei. Cruise across Lago di Garda, the
largest lake in Italy; explore the lovely villages along its shores,
lined with tropical trees while surrounded by alpine peaks. End your
unforgettable Oberammergau travel adventure with a two-night stay at a
five-star former 14th-century palace right on the Grand Canal in
romantic Venice. A Week In… Bavaria, The Dolomites &amp; Venice, Tauck Style, will be one that you will always remember!
]]>
  </description>
  <link>http://www.tauck.com/tours/europe-tours/central-and-eastern-europe-tours/oberammergau-travel-mv-2010</link>
  <durationDays>8</durationDays>
  <durationDetails>8 days and 7 nights.</durationDetails>
  <tripType>ESCORTED_TOUR</tripType>
  <brand>TWD</brand>
  <subbrand>Europe</subbrand>
  <gradeRating>ALL_AGES</gradeRating>
  <comfortRating>COMFORTABLE_MIXED</comfortRating>
  <startingLocation>Munich, Germany</startingLocation>
  <prices>
    <price currency="USD">4490</price>
    <priceDetails><![CDATA[All prices are per person in U.S. dollars. ]]></priceDetails>
  </prices>
  <images>
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  <itinerary>
    <![CDATA[
		

1. Arrive Munich


Tour begins: 6:00 PM, Bayerischer Hof. Welcome to Munich! A transfer is included from Munich Airport to the Bayerischer Hof. Your five-star hotel, a Munich landmark since it opened back in 1841, is ideally located on the Promenadeplatz in the heart of Bavaria’s capital city. We invite you to join us for tonight’s welcome
reception followed by dinner at the Spatenhaus, a cozy Bavarian restaurant set just across the square from Munich’s reconstructed State Opera House. Meals D
 
2. Munich / Schloss Nymphenburg
Beer halls alive with song... traditional colorful Bavarian costumes... the world-famous Oktoberfest. It’s all part of the scene in Munich – and you’ll explore it today with Tauck! Stroll around Marienplatz and through Old Town on a walking tour; see Altes Rathaus (Old Town Hall), the rebuilt Frauenkirche, and St. Mary’s Column. After lunch, head to the outskirts of the city for a visit to Schloss Nymphenburg, one of Europe’s most beautiful palaces. Tour this opulent 17th-century Italianate villa and its spectacular gardens, once the summer home of Bavaria’s ruling Wittelsbach family. Journey through pristine forests dotted with quaint villages and sparkling lakes into the Bavarian Alps, arriving late afternoon in the village of Oberammergau for two nights at the five-star, chalet-style Hotel Maximilian. Enjoy dinner tonight at your luxury boutique hotel adjacent to the village’s historic center – exclusive to Tauck during your stay! Meals BLD
 
3. Oberammergau / Passionsspiele
Awaken in Oberammergau this morning to spend time exploring this lovely Bavarian village – known not only for its famous Passion Play, but also for its centuries-old reputation for producing exquisite woodcarvings; return to your hotel for lunch. Then it’s time for a true highlight of your journey – Tauck’s premium seating at a performance of the Oberammergau Passion Play (or Passionsspiele). Produced only once every ten years (from May through September), this world-renowned tradition began in 1634, when the citizens of Oberammergau promised to perform a play about the life of Jesus in gratitude for being spared from the effects of the devastating plague then raging throughout Europe. Now performed in the first year of each decade, and involving the talents of over 2,000 actors, technicians and musicians – all of whom are village residents – today’s Passionsspiele includes dramatic scenes of the Passion (in German), musical performances and tableaux vivants depicting scenes of the Old Testament; for your enhanced enjoyment, Tauck provides an English libretto. You’ll witness the 2010 Passion Play from Tauck’s premier seating, in the best category available; the performance begins in the afternoon. Following a break for dinner at your hotel, the Passionsspiele continues into the evening. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime event, experienced in inimitable Tauck Style! Meals BLD
 
4. Innsbruck / Bolzano / Castle Evening
Say goodbye to Oberammergau today and set out on a breathtaking drive across the Austrian border and through the spectacular Austrian Alps to Innsbruck, chief city of the Tyrol region and host to the Winter Olympic Games of 1964 and 1976. The city’s rich Imperial architecture dates back to its days as Habsburg Emperor Maximilian I’s capital in the 15th and 16th centuries. You’ll have time to explore at leisure as well as visit the Hofkirche, containing the emperor’s mausoleum, adorned with 28 gigantic bronze statues of his royal ancestors. Enjoy lunch on your own in Innsbruck, then continue into the Italian Alps for a two-night stay in Bolzano at the Parkhotel Laurin. Tonight, travel to Prissiano for a very special evening at Castel Katzenzungen, a restored Renaissance-era castle perched high on a hill overlooking the Alps. A medieval trumpet fanfare welcomes you to a festive reception followed by a sumptuous four-course meal served in one of the castle’s unique, richly furnished rooms. Meals BD
 
5. A Remarkable Day in the Dolomites
Picturesque Bolzano is your base for a memorable day spent exploring the section of the Alps known as the Dolomites, named for the carbonate rock that gives them their distinctive shape and color. Standing like sentinels against the sky, the mountains’ sheer rock walls create remarkable vistas enjoyed by travelers, skiers and hikers year-round. You’ll get an eyeful of this scenic splendor yourself throughout the day – winding your way from Bolzano to Passo Pordoi, then boarding a cable car for a breathtaking bird’s-eye view of the Dolomites from your gondola as you ride to the top. Visit the alpine village of Ortisei for some time exploring at leisure before returning to your hotel in Bolzano for the rest of the day and evening spent just as you please. Meals BL
 
6. Lago di Garda / Private Cruise / Venice
Journey to Lago di Garda (Lake Garda), the largest of the region’s famous lakes. Its shores are dotted with palm and citrus trees, thanks to a balmy climate which the ring of alpine peaks surrounding it actually helps to maintain. Explore the lakeside village of Limone sul Garda, enjoy lunch, and take a private boat cruise across Lago di Garda to Malcesine. Then it’s on to legendary Venice for a two-night stay at the five-star Hotel Danieli Venezia. Set on the Grand Canal just steps away from the Doges’ Palace, your hotel, too, was originally built as a palace for a Venetian Doge in the 14th century. Meals BL
 
7. Discover Venice, City of Canals
Begin your day in this amazing “city of canals” with a walking tour of the city’s highlights. Discover Piazza San Marco, center of Venetian life; St. Mark’s Basilica, boasting exquisite mosaics and detailed carvings; and the Doges’ Palace, former residence of the rulers of Venice, with its famous Bridge of Sighs. Spend the rest of the day exploring Venice as you please. Cap your memorable Oberammergau, Dolomites and Venice travel experience this evening with a cocktail reception followed by a farewell dinner. Meals BD
 
8. Journey Home
Tour ends: Venice. A transfer is included from Hotel Danieli Venezia to Venice’s Marco Polo Airport. Allow 2 1/2 hours for flight check-in. Meals B
]]>
  </itinerary>
  <itineraryDetails>
    <itineraryDay day="1">
  <title>Arrive Munich</title>
  <description>Tour begins: 6:00 PM, Bayerischer Hof. Welcome to Munich! A transfer is included from Munich Airport to the Bayerischer Hof. Your five-star hotel, a Munich landmark since it opened back in 1841, is ideally located on the Promenadeplatz in the heart of Bavaria’s capital city. We invite you to join us for tonight’s welcome reception followed by dinner at the Spatenhaus, a cozy Bavarian restaurant set just across the square from Munich’s reconstructed State Opera House.</description>
  <overnight>Bayerischer Hof, Munich, Germany</overnight>
  <meals>Dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="2">
  <title>Munich / Schloss Nymphenburg</title>
  <description>Beer halls alive with song... traditional colorful Bavarian costumes... the world-famous Oktoberfest. It’s all part of the scene in Munich – and you’ll explore it today with Tauck! Stroll around Marienplatz and through Old Town on a walking tour; see Altes Rathaus (Old Town Hall), the rebuilt Frauenkirche, and St. Mary’s Column. After lunch, head to the outskirts of the city for a visit to Schloss Nymphenburg, one of Europe’s most beautiful palaces. Tour this opulent 17th-century Italianate villa and its spectacular gardens, once the summer home of Bavaria’s ruling Wittelsbach family. Journey through pristine forests dotted with quaint villages and sparkling lakes into the Bavarian Alps, arriving late afternoon in the village of Oberammergau for two nights at the five-star, chalet-style Hotel Maximilian. Enjoy dinner tonight at your luxury boutique hotel adjacent to the village’s historic center – exclusive to Tauck during your stay!</description>
  <overnight>Hotel Maximilian,  Oberammergau, Germany</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="3">
  <title>Oberammergau / Passionsspiele</title>
  <description>Awaken in Oberammergau this morning to spend time exploring this lovely Bavarian village – known not only for its famous Passion Play, but also for its centuries-old reputation for producing exquisite woodcarvings; return to your hotel for lunch. Then it’s time for a true highlight of your journey – Tauck’s premium seating at a performance of the Oberammergau Passion Play (or Passionsspiele). Produced only once every ten years (from May through September), this world-renowned tradition began in 1634, when the citizens of Oberammergau promised to perform a play about the life of Jesus in gratitude for being spared from the effects of the devastating plague then raging throughout Europe. Now performed in the first year of each decade, and involving the talents of over 2,000 actors, technicians and musicians – all of whom are village residents – today’s Passionsspiele includes dramatic scenes of the Passion (in German), musical performances and tableaux vivants depicting scenes of the Old Testament; for your enhanced enjoyment, Tauck provides an English libretto. You’ll witness the 2010 Passion Play from Tauck’s premier seating, in the best category available; the performance begins in the afternoon. Following a break for dinner at your hotel, the Passionsspiele continues into the evening. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime event, experienced in inimitable Tauck Style!</description>
  <overnight>Hotel Maximilian,  Oberammergau, Germany</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="4">
  <title>Innsbruck / Bolzano / Castle Evening</title>
  <description>Say goodbye to Oberammergau today and set out on a breathtaking drive across the Austrian border and through the spectacular Austrian Alps to Innsbruck, chief city of the Tyrol region and host to the Winter Olympic Games of 1964 and 1976. The city’s rich Imperial architecture dates back to its days as Habsburg Emperor Maximilian I’s capital in the 15th and 16th centuries. You’ll have time to explore at leisure as well as visit the Hofkirche, containing the emperor’s mausoleum, adorned with 28 gigantic bronze statues of his royal ancestors. Enjoy lunch on your own in Innsbruck, then continue into the Italian Alps for a two-night stay in Bolzano at the Parkhotel Laurin. Tonight, travel to Prissiano for a very special evening at Castel Katzenzungen, a restored Renaissance-era castle perched high on a hill overlooking the Alps. A medieval trumpet fanfare welcomes you to a festive reception followed by a sumptuous four-course meal served in one of the castle’s unique, richly furnished rooms.</description>
  <overnight>Parkhotel Laurin, Bolzano, Italy</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="5">
  <title>A Remarkable Day in the Dolomites</title>
  <description>Picturesque Bolzano is your base for a memorable day spent exploring the section of the Alps known as the Dolomites, named for the carbonate rock that gives them their distinctive shape and color. Standing like sentinels against the sky, the mountains’ sheer rock walls create remarkable vistas enjoyed by travelers, skiers and hikers year-round. You’ll get an eyeful of this scenic splendor yourself throughout the day – winding your way from Bolzano to Passo Pordoi, then boarding a cable car for a breathtaking bird’s-eye view of the Dolomites from your gondola as you ride to the top. Visit the alpine village of Ortisei for some time exploring at leisure before returning to your hotel in Bolzano for the rest of the day and evening spent just as you please.</description>
  <overnight>Parkhotel Laurin, Bolzano, Italy</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="6">
  <title>Lago di Garda / Private Cruise / Venice</title>
  <description>Journey to Lago di Garda (Lake Garda), the largest of the region’s famous lakes. Its shores are dotted with palm and citrus trees, thanks to a balmy climate which the ring of alpine peaks surrounding it actually helps to maintain. Explore the lakeside village of Limone sul Garda, enjoy lunch, and take a private boat cruise across Lago di Garda to Malcesine. Then it’s on to legendary Venice for a two-night stay at the five-star Hotel Danieli Venezia. Set on the Grand Canal just steps away from the Doges’ Palace, your hotel, too, was originally built as a palace for a Venetian Doge in the 14th century.</description>
  <overnight>Hotel Danieli Venezia, Venice, Italy</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="7">
  <title>Discover Venice, City of Canals</title>
  <description>Begin your day in this amazing “city of canals” with a walking tour of the city’s highlights. Discover Piazza San Marco, center of Venetian life; St. Mark’s Basilica, boasting exquisite mosaics and detailed carvings; and the Doges’ Palace, former residence of the rulers of Venice, with its famous Bridge of Sighs. Spend the rest of the day exploring Venice as you please. Cap your memorable Oberammergau, Dolomites and Venice travel experience this evening with a cocktail reception followed by a farewell dinner.</description>
  <overnight>Hotel Danieli Venezia, Venice, Italy</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="8">
  <title>Journey Home</title>
  <description>Tour ends: Venice. A transfer is included from Hotel Danieli Venezia to Venice’s Marco Polo Airport. Allow 2 1/2 hours for flight check-in.</description>
  <overnight></overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast</meals>
</itineraryDay>
  </itineraryDetails>
  <highlights>
		
				Munich ~ Schloss Nymphenburg ~ Oberammergau Passion Play ~ Innsbruck ~ Bolzano ~ Lago di Garda ~ Venice 
		
</highlights>
  <tauckValues>
    <value order="1">A once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to attend a performance of the Passionsspiele (Passion Play) during a two-night stay at a 5-star boutique hotel in the heart of Oberammergau, exclusive to Tauck</value><value order="2">Taucks premier seating for the Oberammergau Passion Play, the best available for this world-famous event</value><value order="3">TAUCKS YELLOW ROADS! Enjoy dramatic drives through spectacular alpine vistas featuring the sheer rock walls and towering pinnacles of the Dolomites in northern Italy</value><value order="4">A private evening featuring a reception and dinner at hilltop Castel Katzenzungen, offering wonderful mountain views</value><value order="5">A private boat cruise across beautiful Lago di Garda</value><value order="6">An ascent by cable car overlooking the Dolomites</value><value order="7">Airport transfers upon arrival and departure as noted</value><value order="8">16 meals, service charges, gratuities to local guides, admission fees, taxes and porterage</value>
  </tauckValues>  
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    <day>30</day>
    <month>5</month>
    <year>2010</year>
    <singlesPrice>4997</singlesPrice>
    <doublesPrice>4490</doublesPrice>
    <triplesPrice>4357</triplesPrice>
    <quadsPrice>0</quadsPrice>
    
  </date>
  <date>
    <day>4</day>
    <month>6</month>
    <year>2010</year>
    <singlesPrice>5197</singlesPrice>
    <doublesPrice>4690</doublesPrice>
    <triplesPrice>4557</triplesPrice>
    <quadsPrice>0</quadsPrice>
    
  </date>
  <date>
    <day>11</day>
    <month>6</month>
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    <singlesPrice>5197</singlesPrice>
    <doublesPrice>4690</doublesPrice>
    <triplesPrice>4557</triplesPrice>
    <quadsPrice>0</quadsPrice>
    
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</tour><tour>
  <sourceId>NA2010</sourceId>
  <title>Grand Australia and New Zealand</title>
  <summary>
    <![CDATA[From the outback, reef, and cosmopolitan cities of Australia to the geysers, fiords, and Maori culture of New Zealand, experience the very best on this extraordinary New Zealand and Australia tour.

Looking for an all-Australia or all-New Zealand Journey? 
Spotlight on Australia 2010 features the first 12 days of Grand Australia &amp; New Zealand; Spotlight on New Zealand 2010, features the last 9 days of Grand Australia &amp; New Zealand. 2010 Details.
]]>
  </summary>
  <description>
    <![CDATA[Tauck&apos;s ultimate 20-day New Zealand and Australia tour includes desert Outback, tropical rainforests, coral reefs, glacier-capped mountains, dramatic fjords, and cosmopolitan cities. Bring plenty of film to capture the amazing sights of the Great Barrier Reef, the dramatic waters of Milford Sound, and the setting sun on Uluru (Ayers Rock). From koalas to kangaroos, jet boat rides to formal garden tours, elegance in the Outback, and a Maori cultural experience, you get a full sampling of Down Under culture – plus private charter flights throughout New Zealand!

Looking for an all-Australia or all-New Zealand Journey? 
Spotlight on Australia 2010 features the first 12 days of Grand Australia &amp; New Zealand; Spotlight on New Zealand 2010, features the last 9 days of Grand Australia &amp; New Zealand. 2010 Details.
]]>
  </description>
  <link>http://www.tauck.com/tours/australia-travel/australia-tour-na-2010</link>
  <durationDays>20</durationDays>
  <durationDetails>20 days and 19 nights.</durationDetails>
  <tripType>ESCORTED_TOUR</tripType>
  <brand>TWD</brand>
  <subbrand>Exotics</subbrand>
  <gradeRating>ALL_AGES</gradeRating>
  <comfortRating>COMFORTABLE_MIXED</comfortRating>
  <startingLocation>Melbourne, Australia</startingLocation>
  <prices>
    <price currency="USD">6100</price>
    <priceDetails><![CDATA[All prices are per person in U.S. dollars. ]]></priceDetails>
  </prices>
  <images>
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  <itinerary>
    <![CDATA[Flying to Australia
To ease the effects of jet lag, consider traveling to Australia a day early. Tauck can book your international flights for travel originating in the U. S., including arranging an additional night’s stay at the InterContinental Melbourne, The Rialto before your journey begins. Ask for details at booking.

1. Arrive Melbourne 
Tour begins: 6:00 PM, InterContinental Melbourne, The Rialto. A transfer is included from Melbourne Airport to the InterContinental Melbourne, The Rialto. Join us tonight for a welcome reception and dinner in the hotel. Meals D

2. Discover Melbourne’s Charm
A cultural melting pot, Victoria’s capital city delights with an abundance of sights steeped in history and charm. See some of its landmarks today, including St. Patrick’s Cathedral, honoring its Irish heritage, the ANZAC Memorial, bustling Victoria’s Market and the Royal Botanic Gardens, hailed as the best in Australia. Melbourne is also home to the oldest tram network in the world; you’ll have an opportunity to experience this cultural icon firsthand during dinner tonight when you dine aboard the Colonial Tram Car Restaurant as it travels around the city. Meals BD

3. Alice Springs / Desert Outback
Touch down in Alice Springs en route to Ayers Rock and an overnight in the Outback. A private “silver service” sunset champagne party at Uluru enchants with a spectrum of colors and intimate conversation. Meals BL

4. Uluru (Ayers Rock) / Kata Tjuta
Learn about the sacred Aboriginal traditions associated with Uluru on a guided tour around the base of the rock; this massive sandstone monolith looms high above the desert floor and is a wonder to behold. This afternoon’s tour of the many-headed Kata Tjuta (The Olgas), so named for its 36 gigantic rock domes, explores mazes and crevasses associated with centuries-old legends and lore. Meals BD

5. Fly to Port Douglas
Spend the morning at leisure, enjoying a last look at Uluru. Take off for Cairns and Port Douglas this afternoon, arriving at your beachfront resort in time for dinner. Meals BD

6. The Great Barrier Reef
The biggest marine park in the world, the Great Barrier Reef is the only living structure on earth visible from the moon. Board the high-tech catamaran Quicksilver as you are whisked away to the Great Barrier Reef for a day of unforgettable experiences at this UNESCO World Heritage Site. Swim and snorkel, or explore this dazzling underwater world via a semi-submersible. Meals BL

7. From the Rainforest to the Beach
In addition to enjoying a prime location near the beach, your resort is close to some of the most naturally inviting places in the world. Join us this morning for a gondola ride through the mist-shrouded tropical rainforest, ending in the mountain village of Kuranda. Enjoy the remainder of the day as you wish, strolling along Four Mile Beach or experiencing a taste of daily life in the restaurants and boutiques of the lively town of Port Douglas. Meals B

8. Optional Balloon Ride / Sydney
Early risers may choose to soar over the Atherton Tablelands on an optional hot air balloon ride* at dawn (additional cost of $165 per person), before joining us for our late morning flight to Sydney. Stay the next four nights in the heart of the city; your landmark hotel offers sweeping views of the Royal Botanic Gardens and Farm Cove. Meals BLD

9. City Sightseeing / Harbour Cruise
Iconic sights like the Sydney Opera House become even more exciting when Tauck takes you inside on a personally guided tour this morning, followed by a private luncheon cruise around beautiful Sydney Harbour. City sightseeing continues as you see The Rocks, Kings Cross, and Bondi Beach, home to those famous Aussie surfers. Meals BL

10. Breakfast with the Koalas 
They dine on tender eucalyptus leaves while you partake of your favorite fare during today’s breakfast with the resident koalas at the Featherdale Wildlife Park. Your adventures continue on a journey to nearby Blue Mountains National Park. Designated a UNESCO World Heritage Area, this natural wonderland is renowned for spectacular scenery. See the Dinosaur Tree, a virtual living fossil, and forested canyons dressed in ancient ferns, gum trees and cascading waterfalls. Champagne with the kangaroos enables you to view these marsupials in their natural environment! Meals BL

11. Sydney As You Wish
Set off on your own today to do as you wish; Sydney is an easy destination to explore – the only hard part is deciding what to experience next! Meals B

12. Fly to Auckland, New Zealand
Fly to Auckland, surrounded on all sides by water. The nation’s first capital until 1864, today it is New Zealand’s largest city. Your accommodations for the next two nights are at The Langham, Auckland, known for elegance, style, and attentive service; dine tonight at the hotel’s award-winning Partingtons restaurant, voted the best in the city. Meals BLD

13. Wonders of Waiheke Island
A ferry ride away, Waiheke Island is paradise for nature lovers and wine connoisseurs, enticing with sugar-sand beaches, lush greenery, fertile farmland and some of the region’s top wineries. Tour the island and have lunch amidst the magical setting of Mudbrick Vineyard. The remainder of the day is spent at leisure back in Auckland. Meals BL

14. Rotorua and Maori Traditions
Your destination today is Rotorua, set on the edge of one of the most concentrated volcanic areas in the world. Along with its rich geologic history and breathtaking beauty, Rotorua is rooted in centuries of Maori culture and farming traditions. Have lunch at Longlands Farm, a combination working farm and country garden, and visit the Te Puia Maori Cultural Center where a private welcome presentation includes Poi dancing and a moving demonstration of the Haka dance. Wander through an array of exhibits that showcase daily life in Rotorua, ranging from cultural arts to bubbling mud pots and thermal geysers. Meals BLD

15. Mussels on Marlborough Sounds
Board Tauck’s exclusive private charter for a flight to Blenheim and the Marlborough Sounds on New Zealand’s South Island. Before its wine growing expertise captured the interest of world travelers, this region was sought after for its waterfront treasures and seafood pleasures. Experience a taste of life here on a wine and green-lipped mussel cruise that celebrates the bounty of land and sea. Fly on to the city of Wellington aboard Tauck’s private charter for two nights at an ideally located waterfront hotel. Meals BLD

16. Historic Wellington 
Wrapped around a naturally curved harbor, this exuberant city chronicles the history of New Zealand in its stately Parliament buildings, elegant homes and the five-story Te Papa Tongarewa National Museum. Heralded as one of the most stunning – and technologically advanced – interactive museums in the world, its world-class displays and motion simulators make the country’s history, arts and natural environment come alive before your eyes. Meals B

17. Mt. Cook / Queenstown
Weather permitting, get a bird’s-eye-view of Mt. Cook from aboard our private charter as we fly to Queenstown. Your hotel enjoys a premier city-center address, overlooking Lake Wakatipu with its majestic mountain backdrop. Meals BLD

18. Shotover Jet Boat / Sheep Shearing
An exciting morning ride through the storied gorges of the Shotover River Canyon on a Shotover Jet Boat* is followed by a leisurely cruise to Walter Peak Country Farm for afternoon tea and a sheep shearing demonstration. Meals B

19. Milford Sound / Christchurch
Your early morning charter flies you to Te Anau for a scenic drive and a luncheon cruise on Milford Sound. Fly this afternoon to Christchurch, the final stop on your grand adventure “down under.” Say hooray to New Zealand and your fellow travelers at our farewell dinner. Meals BLD

20. Journey Home
Tour ends: Christchurch. Fly home anytime. A transfer is included from Tauck’s hotel to Christchurch Int’l Airport. Allow 2 1/2 hours for flight check-in. Ask about booking an additional night’s stay; there’s a lot to see in Christchurch! Meals B

]]>
  </itinerary>
  <itineraryDetails>
    <itineraryDay day="1">
  <title>Arrive Melbourne </title>
  <description>Tour begins: 6:00 PM, InterContinental Melbourne, The Rialto.  A transfer is included from Melbourne Airport to the InterContinental Melbourne, The Rialto.  Join us tonight for a welcome reception and dinner in the hotel.  Meals D</description>
  <overnight>InterContinental Melbourne, The Rialto, Melbourne, Australia</overnight>
  <meals>Dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="2">
  <title>Discover Melbourne&apos;s Charm</title>
  <description>A cultural melting pot, Victoria&apos;s capital city delights with an abundance of sights steeped in history and charm.  See some of its landmarks today, including St.  Patrick&apos;s Cathedral, honoring its Irish heritage, the ANZAC Memorial, bustling Victoria&apos;s Market and the Royal Botanic Gardens, hailed as the best in Australia.  Melbourne is also home to the oldest tram network in the world; you&apos;ll have an opportunity to experience this cultural icon firsthand during dinner tonight when you dine aboard the Colonial Tram Car Restaurant as it travels around the city.  Meals BD</description>
  <overnight>InterContinental Melbourne, The Rialto, Melbourne, Australia</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="3">
  <title>Alice Springs / Desert Outback</title>
  <description>Touch down in Alice Springs en route to Ayers Rock and an overnight in the Outback.  A private “silver service” sunset champagne party at Uluru enchants with a spectrum of colors and intimate conversation.  Meals BL</description>
  <overnight>Sails in the Desert, Ayers Rock, Australia</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="4">
  <title>Uluru (Ayers Rock) / Kata Tjuta</title>
  <description>Learn about the sacred Aboriginal traditions associated with Uluru on a guided tour around the base of the rock; this massive sandstone monolith looms high above the desert floor and is a wonder to behold.  This afternoon&apos;s tour of the many&amp;#45;headed Kata Tjuta (The Olgas), so named for its 36 gigantic rock domes, explores mazes and crevasses associated with centuries&amp;#45;old legends and lore.  Meals BD</description>
  <overnight>Sails in the Desert, Ayers Rock, Australia</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, dinner </meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="5">
  <title>Fly to Port Douglas</title>
  <description>Spend the morning at leisure, enjoying a last look at Uluru.  Take off for Cairns and Port Douglas this afternoon, arriving at your beachfront resort in time for dinner.  Meals BD</description>
  <overnight>Peppers Beach Club, Port Douglas, Australia</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="6">
  <title>The Great Barrier Reef</title>
  <description>The biggest marine park in the world, the Great Barrier Reef is the only living structure on earth visible from the moon.  Board the high&amp;#45;tech catamaran Quicksilver as you are whisked away to the Great Barrier Reef for a day of unforgettable experiences at this UNESCO World Heritage Site.  Swim and snorkel, or explore this dazzling underwater world via a semi&amp;#45;submersible.  Meals BL</description>
  <overnight>Peppers Beach Club, Port Douglas, Australia</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="7">
  <title>From the Rainforest to the Beach</title>
  <description>In addition to enjoying a prime location near the beach, your resort is close to some of the most naturally inviting places in the world.  Join us this morning for a gondola ride through the mist&amp;#45;shrouded tropical rainforest, ending in the mountain village of Kuranda.  Enjoy the remainder of the day as you wish, strolling along Four Mile Beach or experiencing a taste of daily life in the restaurants and boutiques of the lively town of Port Douglas.  Meals B</description>
  <overnight>Peppers Beach Club, Port Douglas, Australia</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="8">
  <title>Optional Balloon Ride / Sydney</title>
  <description>Early risers may choose to soar over the Atherton Tablelands on an optional hot air balloon ride* at dawn (additional cost of $165 per person), before joining us for our late morning flight to Sydney.  Stay the next four nights in the heart of the city; your landmark hotel offers sweeping views of the Royal Botanic Gardens and Farm Cove.  Meals BLD</description>
  <overnight>InterContinental, Sydney</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="9">
  <title>City Sightseeing / Harbour Cruise</title>
  <description>Iconic sights like the Sydney Opera House become even more exciting when Tauck takes you inside on a personally guided tour this morning, followed by a private luncheon cruise around beautiful Sydney Harbour.  City sightseeing continues as you see The Rocks, Kings Cross, and Bondi Beach, home to those famous Aussie surfers.  Meals BL</description>
  <overnight>InterContinental, Sydney</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="10">
  <title>Breakfast with the Koalas </title>
  <description>They dine on tender eucalyptus leaves while you partake of your favorite fare during today&apos;s breakfast with the resident koalas at the Featherdale Wildlife Park.  Your adventures continue on a journey to nearby Blue Mountains National Park.  Designated a UNESCO World Heritage Area, this natural wonderland is renowned for spectacular scenery.  See the Dinosaur Tree, a virtual living fossil, and forested canyons dressed in ancient ferns, gum trees and cascading waterfalls.  Champagne with the kangaroos enables you to view these marsupials in their natural environment! Meals BL</description>
  <overnight>InterContinental, Sydney</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="11">
  <title>Sydney As You Wish</title>
  <description>Set off on your own today to do as you wish; Sydney is an easy destination to explore &amp;#45; the only hard part is deciding what to experience next! Meals B</description>
  <overnight>InterContinental Sydney, Australia </overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="12">
  <title>Fly to Auckland, New Zealand</title>
  <description>Fly to Auckland, surrounded on all sides by water.  The nation&apos;s first capital until 1864, today it is New Zealand&apos;s largest city.  Your accommodations for the next two nights are at The Langham, Auckland, known for elegance, style, and attentive service; dine tonight at the hotel&apos;s award&amp;#45;winning Partingtons restaurant, voted the best in the city.  Meals BLD</description>
  <overnight>The Langham, Auckland,  New Zealand</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="13">
  <title>Wonders of Waiheke Island</title>
  <description>A ferry ride away, Waiheke Island is paradise for nature lovers and wine connoisseurs, enticing with sugar&amp;#45;sand beaches, lush greenery, fertile farmland and some of the region&apos;s top wineries.  Tour the island and have lunch amidst the magical setting of Mudbrick Vineyard.  The remainder of the day is spent at leisure back in Auckland.  Meals BL</description>
  <overnight>The Langham, Auckland, New Zealand </overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="14">
  <title>Rotorua and Maori Traditions</title>
  <description>Your destination today is Rotorua, set on the edge of one of the most concentrated volcanic areas in the world.  Along with its rich geologic history and breathtaking beauty, Rotorua is rooted in centuries of Maori culture and farming traditions.  Have lunch at Longlands Farm, a combination working farm and country garden, and visit the Te Puia Maori Cultural Center where a private welcome presentation includes Poi dancing and a moving demonstration of the Haka dance.  Wander through an array of exhibits that showcase daily life in Rotorua, ranging from cultural arts to bubbling mud pots and thermal geysers.  Meals BLD</description>
  <overnight>Duxton Hotel Okawa Bay, Rotorua, New Zealand </overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="15">
  <title>Mussels on Marlborough Sounds</title>
  <description>Board Tauck&apos;s exclusive private charter for a flight to Blenheim and the Marlborough Sounds on New Zealand&apos;s South Island.  Before its wine growing expertise captured the interest of world travelers, this region was sought after for its waterfront treasures and seafood pleasures.  Experience a taste of life here on a wine and green&amp;#45;lipped mussel cruise that celebrates the bounty of land and sea.  Fly on to the city of Wellington aboard Tauck&apos;s private charter for two nights at an ideally located waterfront hotel.  Meals BLD</description>
  <overnight>Copthorne Hotel, Wellington, New Zealand</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="16">
  <title>Historic Wellington </title>
  <description>Wrapped around a naturally curved harbor, this exuberant city chronicles the history of New Zealand in its stately Parliament buildings, elegant homes and the five&amp;#45;story Te Papa Tongarewa National Museum.  Heralded as one of the most stunning &amp;#45; and technologically advanced &amp;#45; interactive museums in the world, its world&amp;#45;class displays and motion simulators make the country&apos;s history, arts and natural environment come alive before your eyes.  Meals B</description>
  <overnight>Copthorne Hotel, Wellington, New Zealand</overnight>
  <meals> Breakfast</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="17">
  <title>Mt.  Cook / Queenstown</title>
  <description>Weather permitting, get a bird&apos;s&amp;#45;eye&amp;#45;view of Mt.  Cook from aboard our private charter as we fly to Queenstown.  Your hotel enjoys a premier city&amp;#45;center address, overlooking Lake Wakatipu with its majestic mountain backdrop.  Meals BLD</description>
  <overnight>Crowne Plaza Queenstown,  New Zealand</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="18">
  <title>Shotover Jet Boat / Sheep Shearing</title>
  <description>An exciting morning ride through the storied gorges of the Shotover River Canyon on a Shotover Jet Boat* is followed by a leisurely cruise to Walter Peak Country Farm for afternoon tea and a sheep shearing demonstration.  Meals B</description>
  <overnight>Crowne Plaza Queenstown,  New Zealand</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="19">
  <title>Milford Sound / Christchurch</title>
  <description>Your early morning charter flies you to Te Anau for a scenic drive and a luncheon cruise on Milford Sound.  Fly this afternoon to Christchurch, the final stop on your grand adventure “down under.” Say hooray to New Zealand and your fellow travelers at our farewell dinner.  Meals BLD</description>
  <overnight>Millennium Hotel Christchurch, Christchurch, New Zealand</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="20">
  <title>Journey Home</title>
  <description>Tour ends: Christchurch. Fly home anytime. A transfer is included from Tauck’s hotel to Christchurch Int’l Airport. Allow 2 1/2 hours for flight check-in. Ask about booking an additional night’s stay; there’s a lot to see in Christchurch!</description>
  <overnight></overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast</meals>
</itineraryDay>
  </itineraryDetails>
  <highlights>
		
				Melbourne ~ Sydney ~ Uluru (Ayers Rock) ~ Hayman Island ~ Great Barrier Reef ~ Auckland~ Queenstown 
</highlights>
  <tauckValues>
    <value order="1">Taucks private business-class charter flights in New Zealand  more sightseeing, less waiting</value><value order="2">NEW! 3 nights at Peppers Beach Club in Port Douglas, with full-day eco-cruise and snorkeling at the Great Barrier Reef accompanied by an expert marine biologist</value><value order="3">NEW! Breakfast with the koalas at a Sydney wildlife park and champagne with the kangaroos in the Blue Mountains</value><value order="4">Sunset cocktail party at mystical Uluru (Ayers Rock)</value><value order="5">Private luncheon cruise of Sydney Harbour</value><value order="6">NEW! Wine and green-lipped mussel luncheon cruise in New Zealands Marlborough Sounds</value><value order="7">Private presentation of Maori dance and entertainment and exclusive insider lunch at Longlands Farm, a working farm and country garden, in New Zealand</value><value order="8">Shotover Jet Boat ride on Shotover River</value><value order="9">40 meals (19 breakfasts, 11 lunches, 10 dinners)</value><value order="10">Gratuities to local guides, service charges, taxes, porterage and airport transfers</value>
  </tauckValues>  
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</tour><tour>
  <sourceId>NB2010</sourceId>
  <title>Normandy, Brittany, Paris &amp; the Loire Valley</title>
  <summary>
    <![CDATA[Visit the poignant beaches of D-Day, discover the rugged Brittany Coast, dine at an elegant estate in chateaux country, and spend three memorable nights in Paris on one of the most comprehensive Northern France and Normandy tours from Tauck. Select Small Group departure dates available with no more than 26 Tauck guests!
]]>
  </summary>
  <description>
    <![CDATA[Our journey through Normandy tours Brittany and the lovely Loire Valley as well, capped off with three nights in Paris. Visit Normandy&apos;s poignant D-Day beaches, magnificent Mont-St-Michel and Monet&apos;s beloved Giverny; take a private cruise on the Gulf du Morbihan; enjoy a private visit to a family-run Calvados estate and tour France&apos;s famous national riding school; see the Bayeaux and Apocalypse Tapestries; dine at a private Loire Valley estate, where you&apos;ll experience a hunting hound demonstration; explore Musée d&apos;Orsay in Paris and embark on a romantic farewell dinner cruise on the Seine.
]]>
  </description>
  <link>http://www.tauck.com/tours/europe-tours/france-tour/normandy-tours-nb-2010</link>
  <durationDays>13</durationDays>
  <durationDetails>13 days and 12 nights.</durationDetails>
  <tripType>ESCORTED_TOUR</tripType>
  <brand>TWD</brand>
  <subbrand>Europe</subbrand>
  <gradeRating>ALL_AGES</gradeRating>
  <comfortRating>COMFORTABLE_MIXED</comfortRating>
  <startingLocation>Paris, France</startingLocation>
  <prices>
    <price currency="USD">4990</price>
    <priceDetails><![CDATA[All prices are per person in U.S. dollars. ]]></priceDetails>
  </prices>
  <images>
    <image isMain="true">http://tools.tauck.com/Files/ItineraryImages/ListImages/img_NB2010_list.jpg</image>
    <image>http://tools.tauck.com/Files/ItineraryImages/altImages/NB2010_alt1.jpg</image>
    <image>http://tools.tauck.com/Files/ItineraryImages/altImages/NB2010_alt2.jpg</image>
    <image>http://tools.tauck.com/Files/ItineraryImages/altImages/NB2010_alt3.jpg</image>
    <image isMap="true">http://tools.tauck.com/Files/ItineraryImages/MapImages/map_NB2010.jpg</image>
  </images>
  <itinerary>
    <![CDATA[]]>
  </itinerary>
  <itineraryDetails>
    <itineraryDay day="1">
  <title>Arrive Paris / Versailles</title>
  <description>Tour begins: 6:00 PM, Trianon Palace Versailles. Welcome to France! A transfer is included from Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport to the Trianon Palace Versailles; if you wish, we’ve included an independent visit to Château de Versailles that can be arranged through the hotel concierge. Normandy, Brittany, Paris &amp;amp; the Loire Valley begins at 6:00 PM with a welcome reception and dinner in the hotel.</description>
  <overnight>Trianon Palace &amp; Spa, Versailles, France</overnight>
  <meals>Dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="2">
  <title>Medieval Chartres / Langeais </title>
  <description>Arrive in ancient Chartres for a visit to the International Stained-Glass Centre and a demonstration of this delicate, centuries-old art – then see more stunning examples inside the world-famous Chartres Cathedral, followed by a tour of the historic town. Continue on to châteaux country; enjoy dinner this evening at your hotel in Langeais – the Château de Rochecotte, once the private estate of diplomat Prince Talleyrand and the Duchess of Dino.</description>
  <overnight>Château de Rochecotte, Langeais, France</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="3">
  <title>Loire Valley / Châteaux Country </title>
  <description>The châteaux, gardens, towns and unique culture of the Loire Valley are all yours today. After a guided tour of France’s national riding school, Le Cadre Noir du Saumur, pay a private visit to the vineyards of Le Moulin Bleu, in Bourgueil on the Loire’s north bank, for lunch and a wine tasting. This afternoon, explore Château de Villandry and its stunning formal gardens, considered among the most beautiful in the world. Dinner tonight brings us to Château de Champchevrier, a historic private estate; meet Le Baron and his family, and enjoy a reception, dinner and a colorful hunting hound demonstration in full regalia.</description>
  <overnight>Château de Rochecotte, Langeais, France</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="4">
  <title>Angers / Guerande / Port du Crouesty</title>
  <description>In Angers, the Loire Valley’s center for the wine trade, your guided visit to the 17-towered Château d’Angers affords a view of the famed 14th-century Apocalypse Tapestry, the longest in the world. Experience the salt marshes of Guerande, where fleur de sel (flower of salt) has been harvested by hand for centuries, en route to Port du Crouesty for a two-night stay at the Miramar Crouesty.</description>
  <overnight>Miramar Crouesty, Port du Crouesty, France</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="5">
  <title>Golfe du Morbihan / Rochefort-en-Terre</title>
  <description>Your day begins with a private sightseeing cruise along the island-dotted Golfe du Morbihan, and continues after lunch with a visit to Rochefort-en-Terre. Ablaze with red and pink geraniums from spring to fall thanks to a tradition begun a century ago by painter Alfred Klots, the village is today considered one of France’s premier floral towns.</description>
  <overnight>Miramar Crouesty, Port du Crouesty, France</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="6">
  <title>Vannes / Château Josselin / St-Malo</title>
  <description>Britanny’s traditions have endured for centuries, as you’ll see on a walking tour of Vannes’ ancient walled core; view the Cathedral and stroll through the colorful Promenade de la Garenne. This afternoon, visit Josselin, dominated by imposing Château Josselin, residence of the aristocratic Rohan family. Learn about the castle’s turbulent history on a guided tour, and explore the Doll Museum’s collection of rare dolls from the 17th century to today. Drive through charming villages to St-Malo for a two-night stay.</description>
  <overnight>Le Grand Hôtel des Thermes, St-Malo, France</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="7">
  <title>A Day in St-Malo</title>
  <description>Set dramatically by the sea, St-Malo was once notorious as the base of French corsairs. Join your Tauck Director for a guided walking tour of its atmospheric, walled medieval center, La Ville Intra-Muros; spend the rest of the day exploring as you please, or take advantage of the spa back at Le Grand Hôtel des Thermes.</description>
  <overnight>Le Grand Hôtel des Thermes, St-Malo, France</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="8">
  <title>Mont-St-Michel / Bayeux / Honfleur</title>
  <description>This morning you’ll visit world-famous Mont-St-Michel, a thousand-year-old mountaintop abbey perched on an island; be prepared for a bit of walking during your tour. Head across the countryside to the Normandy coast; see the celebrated Bayeux Tapestry, then continue on to Honfleur and a private visit to the family-run Calvados distillery and orchards of Manoir d’Apreval for a tasting and dinner. Arrive at your Belle Époque-era beachfront resort hotel in seaside Deauville for a two-night stay.</description>
  <overnight>Royal Barrière Deauville, France</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="9">
  <title>Beaches of D-Day / American Cemetery</title>
  <description>On June 6, 1944, Allied forces landed at invasion beaches along the Normandy coast with code names forever etched in our memory – Utah, Gold, Juno, Sword, Omaha. Begin a memorable exploration of the area at the Pegasus Bridge Museum, with an introduction to D-Day by a local historian; view a unique 360-degree film presentation and the remains of a “Mulberry” artificial harbor at Arromanches. After lunch, see Pointe du Hoc, a 100-ft. cliff taken by the 2nd Ranger Battalion on D-Day; tour the now-quiet Omaha Beach; and visit the American Military Cemetery.</description>
  <overnight>Royal Barrière Deauville, France</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="10">
  <title>Rouen / Giverny / On to Paris</title>
  <description>Travel to ancient Rouen for a locally guided tour; stop at the modern Church of Ste. Joan of Arc, dedicated to the French heroine burned at the stake in this city in 1431. Visit the home and gardens of painter Claude Monet at Giverny, depicted in some of his most celebrated works, and the Musée d’Art Américain. Continue on to timeless Paris, where you’ll spend the next three nights on the Left Bank at stylish Hôtel Lutetia Paris, the city’s first Art Deco hotel.</description>
  <overnight>Hotel Lutetia Paris, France</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="11">
  <title>Remarkable Paris</title>
  <description>A morning orientation tour of the legendary French capital views landmarks such as the Arc de Triomphe, Champs-Élysées, and the Eiffel Tower, and includes a visit to the Cathedral of Notre Dame. During your tour, you may want to pick your favorite spot from which to start exploring Paris as you please for the rest of the day.</description>
  <overnight>Hotel Lutetia Paris, France</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="12">
  <title>Musée d’Orsay / Seine Dinner Cruise</title>
  <description>Your local guide leads you on a tour of the Musée d’Orsay, displaying an extensive collection of French Impressionist paintings and art objects in a restored former 1900 railway station. Tonight, you’ll get a whole new perspective on famous Parisian sights at twilight during this evening’s unforgettable farewell dinner cruise along the River Seine.</description>
  <overnight>Hotel Lutetia Paris, France</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="13">
  <title>Journey Home</title>
  <description>Tour ends: Paris. A transfer from the Hôtel Lutetia Paris to Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport is included. Allow a minimum of 2 1/2 hours for flight check-in.</description>
  <overnight></overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast</meals>
</itineraryDay>
  </itineraryDetails>
  <highlights>		
Versailles ~ Rouen ~ Deauville ~ Normandy Beaches ~ Mont-St-Michel ~ St-Malo ~ Dinan ~ Josselin ~ Vannes ~ Pont-Aven ~ Angers ~ Loire Valley ~ Paris ~ Giverny 
</highlights>
  <tauckValues>
    <value order="1">TAUCKS YELLOW ROADS! Travel from Brittanys rugged headlands out across the idyllic French countryside to the Normandy coast and the historic D-Day beaches</value><value order="2">An evening at a private country estate in chteaux country, with dinner and a hunting hound demonstration in full regalia</value><value order="3">A private cruise along the scenic Golfe du Morbihan</value><value order="4">A guided tour of Le Cadre Noir du Saumur, Frances world-famous national riding school</value><value order="5">A private visit to a family-run Calvados estate in Normandy</value><value order="6">Visits to must-see sights including Chartres Cathedral, Mont-St-Michel, Omaha Beach, Monets Giverny, the Bayeux and Apocalypse Tapestries, the Muse dOrsay and Notre Dame</value><value order="7">A farewell dinner cruise on the romantic River Seine, amidst the twinkling lights of Paris</value><value order="8">Airport transfers upon arrival and departure</value><value order="9">24 meals (12 breakfasts, 4 lunches, 8 dinners); service charges, gratuities to local guides, admission fees, taxes and porterage</value>
  </tauckValues>  
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    <date>
    <day>4</day>
    <month>6</month>
    <year>2010</year>
    <singlesPrice>6978</singlesPrice>
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    <day>22</day>
    <month>8</month>
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    <day>29</day>
    <month>8</month>
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    <triplesPrice>4942</triplesPrice>
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  </date>
  <date>
    <day>1</day>
    <month>10</month>
    <year>2010</year>
    <singlesPrice>6978</singlesPrice>
    <doublesPrice>5190</doublesPrice>
    <triplesPrice>5142</triplesPrice>
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    <doublesPrice>5190</doublesPrice>
    <triplesPrice>5142</triplesPrice>
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</tour><tour>
  <sourceId>NE2010</sourceId>
  <title>Classic New England</title>
  <summary>
    <![CDATA[Cruise aboard a working lobster boat and wander through historic mansions, museums and destinations from history books as you explore picturesque Massachusetts, Maine, Vermont and New Hampshire on this classic among our New England tours.
]]>
  </summary>
  <description>
    <![CDATA[Tauck traces its origins to Arthur Tauck Sr. and the very first guests he guided through New England in 1925 – 85 years later, our New England tours are still immensely popular! From Boston&apos;s colonial history to the rugged Atlantic coast to the Green and White Mountains, this journey is a joy in every season of the year. Cruise aboard a real Maine lobster boat... check out the ecology of northern New England with an interpretive lecture... take a guided walk on Portland&apos;s historic waterfront... attend a Town Hall Meeting in Portsmouth... sample local cheese and wine at at &quot;Taste of Vermont&quot; reception... see a definitive collection of original works by Norman Rockwell in Stockbridge, and much, much more on this true classic among New England tours.
]]>
  </description>
  <link>http://www.tauck.com/tours/usa-tours/new-england-travel/new-england-tours-ne-2010</link>
  <durationDays>8</durationDays>
  <durationDetails>8 days and 7 nights.</durationDetails>
  <tripType>ESCORTED_TOUR</tripType>
  <brand>TWD</brand>
  <subbrand>USA and Canada</subbrand>
  <gradeRating>ALL_AGES</gradeRating>
  <comfortRating>COMFORTABLE_MIXED</comfortRating>
  <startingLocation>Boston, Massachusetts</startingLocation>
  <prices>
    <price currency="USD">2590</price>
    <priceDetails><![CDATA[All prices are per person in U.S. dollars. ]]></priceDetails>
  </prices>
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    <image>http://tools.tauck.com/Files/ItineraryImages/altImages/NE2010_alt2.jpg</image>
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  <itinerary>
    <![CDATA[1. Arrive Boston
Tour begins: 6:30 PM at Omni Parker House. A transfer is included from Boston’s Logan Airport to your first night’s hotel, the Omni Parker House hotel, a landmark located on the Freedom Trail. Join us tonight for a cocktail reception and dinner. Meals D

2. Boston / Cambridge
A Boston city sightseeing tour includes views of Faneuil Hall, the Old State House and the South Meeting House. Travel across the Charles River to Cambridge for a walking tour of Harvard Yard and return to Boston for a visit to Old North Church. The remainder of the day is free. Meals B

3. Lexington &amp; Concord / Salem
Follow the route of Paul Revere’s ride through Lexington and Concord; see the Old North Bridge and the Minute Man statue. Travel to Salem for a visit to the beautiful streetscapes of the McIntire Historic District; your journey continues along the Atlantic Ocean to the city of Portsmouth, New Hampshire. Get an insider look at the history of New Hampshire’s role on the national political stage when you attend a “Town Hall Meeting” hosted by a local expert. Meals BD

4. Coastal Maine / White Mountains
Travel along the rugged coast of Maine to Portland for a special Tauck experience when you board a working lobster boat for an educational cruise* amidst scenic views of the Portland waterfront. Following your cruise, take a guided interpretive walking tour through Portland’s historic Old Port, then drive into New Hampshire’s White Mountains. An ecological lecture offers an in-depth view of the botany, wildlife and unique environment of the North Woods. Meals BLD

5. White Mountains / Green Mountains
Journey through the White Mountains to Crawford Notch and dramatic Franconia Notch, where you’ll take a short walk in the Basin. Lunch is à la carte at historic Hanover Inn, on the Green at Dartmouth College, before a stop in the riverside village of Quichee for a visit to the Vermont Institute of Natural Sciences. Arrive in Plymouth, set in the heart of the Green Mountains; a “Taste of Vermont” reception featuring wine and local cheese precedes dinner at your leisure. Meals BLD

6. Rural Vermont / Woodstock
Drive along country lanes to Woodstock for a visit to the Billings Farm and Museum, a virtual museum of rural Vermont as well as a working dairy farm. Calvin Coolidge, 30th President of the United States, was born in Plymouth Notch in 1872; visit his birthplace, then return to your resort  where you can join us for an optional guided nature walk or spend time enjoying the resort as you wish. Meals BD

7. Berkshires / Stockbridge
Scenic New England roads take you to the quaint town of Stockbridge for a visit to the Norman Rockwell Museum, featuring a collection of the artist’s Saturday Evening Post covers. Join us for a farewell reception and dinner tonight at your hotel, tucked away in the Berkshires. Meals BLD

8. Journey Home
Drive through the Pioneer Valley of the Connecticut River for a stop at historic Deerfield, then back to Boston (approx. 160 miles). Tour ends: Boston’s Logan Airport at approx. 3:00 PM or the Omni Parker House at 4:00 PM. Allow two hours for check-in. Tauck can arrange additional nights at the Omni Parker House for guests wishing to spend more time in Boston (airport transfers included). Meals BL 

*For activities marked with an asterisk (*) in day-by-day descriptions, participation is at your own risk and a signed liability waiver will be required.
]]>
  </itinerary>
  <itineraryDetails>
    <itineraryDay day="1">
  <title>Arrive Boston</title>
  <description>Tour begins: 6:30 PM at Omni Parker House.  A transfer is included from Boston&apos;s Logan Airport to your first night&apos;s hotel, the Omni Parker House hotel, a landmark located on the Freedom Trail.  Join us tonight for a cocktail reception and dinner.  Meals D</description>
  <overnight>Omni Parker House, Boston, MA</overnight>
  <meals>Dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="2">
  <title>Boston / Cambridge</title>
  <description>A Boston city sightseeing tour includes views of Faneuil Hall, the Old State House and the South Meeting House.  Travel across the Charles River to Cambridge for a walking tour of Harvard Yard and return to Boston for a visit to Old North Church.  The remainder of the day is free.  Meals B</description>
  <overnight>Omni Parker House, Boston, MA</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="3">
  <title>Lexington &amp; Concord / Salem</title>
  <description>Follow the route of Paul Revere&apos;s ride through Lexington and Concord; see the Old North Bridge and the Minute Man statue.  Travel to Salem for a visit to the beautiful streetscapes of the McIntire Historic District; your journey continues along the Atlantic Ocean to the city of Portsmouth, New Hampshire.  Get an insider look at the history of New Hampshire&apos;s role on the national political stage when you attend a “Town Hall Meeting” hosted by a local expert.  Meals BD</description>
  <overnight>Sheraton Harborside Portsmouth, NH</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="4">
  <title>Coastal Maine / White Mountains</title>
  <description>Travel along the rugged coast of Maine to Portland for a special Tauck experience when you board a working lobster boat for an educational cruise* amidst scenic views of the Portland waterfront.  Following your cruise, take a guided interpretive walking tour through Portland&apos;s historic Old Port, then drive into New Hampshire&apos;s White Mountains.  An ecological lecture offers an in&amp;#45;depth view of the botany, wildlife and unique environment of the North Woods.  Meals BLD</description>
  <overnight>White Mountain Hotel &amp; Resort, North Conway, NH</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="5">
  <title>White Mountains / Green Mountains</title>
  <description>Journey through the White Mountains to Crawford Notch and dramatic Franconia Notch, where you&apos;ll take a short walk in the Basin.  Lunch is &amp;#224; la carte at historic Hanover Inn, on the Green at Dartmouth College, before a stop in the riverside village of Quichee for a visit to the Vermont Institute of Natural Sciences.  Arrive in Plymouth, set in the heart of the Green Mountains; a “Taste of Vermont” reception featuring wine and local cheese precedes dinner at your leisure.  Meals BLD</description>
  <overnight>Hawk Inn &amp; Mountain Resort, Plymouth, VT</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="6">
  <title>Rural Vermont / Woodstock</title>
  <description>Drive along country lanes to Woodstock for a visit to the Billings Farm and Museum, a virtual museum of rural Vermont as well as a working dairy farm.  Calvin Coolidge, 30th President of the United States, was born in Plymouth Notch in 1872; visit his birthplace, then return to your resort where you can join us for an optional guided nature walk or spend time enjoying the resort as you wish.  Meals BD</description>
  <overnight>Hawk Inn &amp; Mountain Resort, Plymouth, VT</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="7">
  <title>Berkshires / Stockbridge</title>
  <description>Scenic New England roads take you to the quaint town of Stockbridge for a visit to the Norman Rockwell Museum, featuring a collection of the artist&apos;s Saturday Evening Post covers.  Join us for a farewell reception and dinner tonight at your hotel, tucked away in the Berkshires.  Meals BLD</description>
  <overnight>Crowne Plaza Hotel, Pittsfield, MA</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="8">
  <title>Journey Home</title>
  <description>Drive through the Pioneer Valley of the Connecticut River for a stop at historic Deerfield, then back to Boston (approx. 160 miles). Tour ends: Boston’s Logan Airport at approx. 3:00 PM or the Omni Parker House at 4:00 PM. Allow two hours for check-in. Tauck can arrange additional nights at the Omni Parker House for guests wishing to spend more time in Boston (airport transfers included).

*For activities marked with an asterisk (*) in day-by-day descriptions, participation is at your own risk and a signed liability waiver will be required.</description>
  <overnight></overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast</meals>
</itineraryDay>
  </itineraryDetails>
  <highlights>
		
				Massachusetts ~ Maine ~ Vermont ~ New Hampshire 
</highlights>
  <tauckValues>
    <value order="1">Culturally interactive discoveries during a cruise aboard a working lobster boat to learn firsthand about the harvesting and conservation efforts of Maine lobstermen</value><value order="2">Guided interpretive walk through the historic Old Port in the waterfront city of Portland, Maine</value><value order="3">Town Hall Meeting in Portsmouth, hosted by a local expert, for a look at New Hampshires role in national politics</value><value order="4">Environment and ecology presentation providing insights into the unique environs of northern New England</value><value order="5">Taste of Vermont wine reception in Plymouth, Vermont, featuring local and regional cheese</value><value order="6">Visit to the Norman Rockwell Museum in Stockbridge, Massachusetts</value><value order="7">Airport transfers upon arrival and departure as noted</value><value order="8">17 meals, service charges, gratuities to local guides, admission fees, taxes and porterage</value>
  </tauckValues>  
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    <date>
    <day>23</day>
    <month>9</month>
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</tour><tour>
  <sourceId>NM2010</sourceId>
  <title>New Mexico - Land of Enchantment</title>
  <summary>
    <![CDATA[Tauck&apos;s culturally enriching New Mexico vacation explores Native American, Spanish and Old West influences in Albuquerque and Santa Fe, and visits Taos Pueblo, Carlsbad Caverns National Park, and White Sands National Monument.
]]>
  </summary>
  <description>
    <![CDATA[Tauck&apos;s fun and fascinating New Mexico vacation paints an intriguing portrait of the &quot;Land of Enchantment.&quot; Enjoy two nights at a luxurious mountain resort and three nights in fabulous Santa Fe. Attend a private cocktail party, dinner and docent tour at the El Paso Museum of Art... enjoy a private visit to the Georgia O&apos;Keeffe Museum, and a private cooking demonstration and tasting lunch in Santa Fe... discover Albuquerque&apos;s 300-year-old Old Town and 1,000-year-old Pueblo de Taos, with a guided tour of the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center... wonder at nature&apos;s handiwork among the dunes of White Sands National Monument, and deep under the desert at Carlsbad Caverns National Park, enhanced by a private lecture by a conservationist on the caverns&apos; nocturnal residents. It&apos;s New Mexico vacation magic at its best!

]]>
  </description>
  <link>http://www.tauck.com/tours/usa-tours/western-usa-travel/new-mexico-vacation-nm-2010</link>
  <durationDays>8</durationDays>
  <durationDetails>8 days and 7 nights.</durationDetails>
  <tripType>ESCORTED_TOUR</tripType>
  <brand>TWD</brand>
  <subbrand>USA and Canada</subbrand>
  <gradeRating>ALL_AGES</gradeRating>
  <comfortRating>COMFORTABLE_MIXED</comfortRating>
  <startingLocation>El Paso, Texas</startingLocation>
  <prices>
    <price currency="USD">2370</price>
    <priceDetails><![CDATA[All prices are per person in U.S. dollars. ]]></priceDetails>
  </prices>
  <images>
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  <itinerary>
    <![CDATA[1. Arrive El Paso, Texas
Tour begins: 3:45 PM at El Paso Marriott. A transfer is included from El Paso International Airport to the El Paso Marriott. Welcome to the great Southwest! Your journey through New Mexico’s colorful desert wonderland begins in El Paso, Texas’ Sun City on the Rio Grande. Attend a lecture by a veteran conservationist on the bats of Carlsbad Caverns, then enjoy a change of pace as a docent leads you through the impressive El Paso Museum of Art, home to a permanent collection of more than 5,000 works of American, European and Mexican art, followed by a private welcome reception and dinner right in the museum. Meals D

2. Carlsbad Caverns 
As you embark on a full day’s drive in New Mexico, through the Chihuahuan Desert and past the rugged Guadalupe Mountains, you might be unaware that more than 300 ancient limestone caves – including some of the largest in North America – lurk beneath the surface in a fossil reef 250 million years old. Your first stop today is a visit to Carlsbad Caverns National Park, containing 113 of these amazing caves. Explore gigantic Carlsbad Cavern itself – known at the park as “The Big Room” – which 20th-century humorist Will Rogers called “the Grand Canyon with a roof on it.” After lunch, continue across the Chihuahuan Desert to the Inn of the Mountain Gods Resort &amp; Casino, surrounded by snow-capped peaks, for a two-night stay. Dinner is at your leisure tonight at a choice of restaurants. Meals BLD

3. White Sands National Monument
Spend the day, your way, taking advantage of the resort’s many recreational activities, including bird watching, hiking, fishing, horseback riding, golf, boating and more (additional costs may apply), or exploring nearby sights on Tauck’s optional sightseeing excursions. Looking like great, glistening waves, a sea of snow-white sand rises from the heart of New Mexico’s Tularosa Basin. Get a close-up look at this unique natural wonder, part of the world’s largest gypsum sand dune field covering some 275 square miles of desert, at the White Sands National Monument, preserving the ever-changing dune fields and the plant and animal species that live in this harsh environment. This afternoon, you may want to join us for a visit to the Hubbard Museum in nearby Ruidoso, chronicling the cultural and environmental history of the American West. Fine à la carte dining is on the menu tonight at the resort’s signature restaurant, Wendell’s, amidst spectacular views. Meals BD

4. Discover Albuquerque / Santa Fe
Journey to Albuquerque, New Mexico’s largest city, whose modern sprawl surrounds a charming 300-year-old Old Town which grew from a farming village and military outpost on El Camino Real. Explore Old Town’s delightful mix of cobbled alleys, tiny courtyards, cafés and historic Pueblo adobe and Spanish Colonial architecture. Continue on to Santa Fe for three nights at the Eldorado Hotel &amp; Spa, located in the heart of historic Santa Fe. Meals BD

5. A City of Many Flavors
Native American, Spanish and Old West influences blend to form a unique cultural mixture in Santa Fe, crossroads of the Southwest. Established at a point some 7,000 feet above sea level in the foothills of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains as a Spanish colonial capital in 1610, this colorful multicultural community is the second-oldest city in America. Experience an authentic taste of southwestern cuisine at a private cooking demonstration with lunch, then take a walking tour of the city’s main plaza, terminus of the famed Santa Fe Trail. Sights include the nation’s oldest public building, the Palace of the Governors, the seat of regional government for 300 years and today a history museum. Dinner is on your own tonight. Meals BL

6. Ancient Pueblo de Taos
Venture outside of the city to explore Taos’ desert and mountain landscapes; they have long attracted artists seeking inspiration. Stop at much-photographed Ranchos de Taos to see the 18th-century San Francisco de Asís Mission Church, en route to legendary Pueblo de Taos, the only living Native American community designated both a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a National Historic Landmark. Storyteller Roberta Meyer shares the legends of the region before a walk to the pueblos over the dramatic Rio Grande Gorge Bridge, where spectacular views provide an awesome backdrop for her fascinating stories. View multi-storied adobe “apartments” that have been continuously inhabited for over 1,000 years; its current residents still live in the way their ancestors did – without electricity or running water. Return to Santa Fe for an evening at leisure with an included à la carte dinner at the Old House Restaurant. Meals BD

7. Santa Fe / Albuquerque
Enjoy a private morning visit to the Georgia O’Keeffe Museum to view paintings, drawings, and sculpture by the celebrated artist who called Santa Fe home. The museum’s collection includes close to 3,000 works, including 1,149 paintings, drawings, and sculptures by O’Keeffe. Subjects range from her trademark flowers and bleached desert skulls to nudes, landscapes, cityscapes, still lifes, and abstractions, dating from 1901 to 1984. (On departures during periods when the museum is closed, you’ll visit the Georgia O’Keeffe Research Center, displaying many of her personal effects.) Return to Albuquerque this afternoon, stopping for a guided tour of the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center. The museum is run by the 19 Native American pueblos of the Rio Grande Valley as a showcase of puebloan history and culture. Your accommodations continue to entice with a look at local life; the Hyatt Regency Tamaya Resort &amp; Spa celebrates the traditions of the Tamayame people in design and décor. Join us for a farewell dinner tonight. Meals BD

8. Journey Home
Tour ends: Albuquerque. Fly home anytime. A transfer is included from Hyatt Regency Tamaya Resort &amp; Spa to Albuquerque International Sunport; allow a minimum of two hours for flight check-in. Ask at booking about extending your stay with additional hotel nights. Meals B
]]>
  </itinerary>
  <itineraryDetails>
    <itineraryDay day="1">
  <title>Arrive El Paso, Texas</title>
  <description>Tour begins: 3:45 PM at El Paso Marriott.  A transfer is included from El Paso International Airport to the El Paso Marriott.  Welcome to the great Southwest! Your journey through New Mexico&apos;s colorful desert wonderland begins in El Paso, Texas&apos; Sun City on the Rio Grande.  Attend a lecture by a veteran conservationist on the bats of Carlsbad Caverns, then enjoy a change of pace as a docent leads you through the impressive El Paso Museum of Art, home to a permanent collection of more than 5,000 works of American, European and Mexican art, followed by a private welcome reception and dinner right in the museum.  Meals D</description>
  <overnight>El Paso Marriott, El Paso, TX</overnight>
  <meals>Dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="2">
  <title>Carlsbad Caverns </title>
  <description>As you embark on a full day&apos;s drive in New Mexico, through the Chihuahuan Desert and past the rugged Guadalupe Mountains, you might be unaware that more than 300 ancient limestone caves &amp;#45; including some of the largest in North America &amp;#45; lurk beneath the surface in a fossil reef 250 million years old.  Your first stop today is a visit to Carlsbad Caverns National Park, containing 113 of these amazing caves.  Explore gigantic Carlsbad Cavern itself &amp;#45; known at the park as “The Big Room” &amp;#45; which 20th&amp;#45;century humorist Will Rogers called “the Grand Canyon with a roof on it.” After lunch, continue across the Chihuahuan Desert to the Inn of the Mountain Gods Resort &amp; Casino, surrounded by snow&amp;#45;capped peaks, for a two&amp;#45;night stay.  Dinner is at your leisure tonight at a choice of restaurants.  Meals BLD</description>
  <overnight>Inn of the Mountain Gods Resort &amp; Casino, Mescalero, NM</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="3">
  <title>White Sands National Monument</title>
  <description>Spend the day, your way, taking advantage of the resort&apos;s many recreational activities, including bird watching, hiking, fishing, horseback riding, golf, boating and more (additional costs may apply), or exploring nearby sights on Tauck&apos;s optional sightseeing excursions.  Looking like great, glistening waves, a sea of snow&amp;#45;white sand rises from the heart of New Mexico&apos;s Tularosa Basin.  Get a close&amp;#45;up look at this unique natural wonder, part of the world&apos;s largest gypsum sand dune field covering some 275 square miles of desert, at the White Sands National Monument, preserving the ever&amp;#45;changing dune fields and the plant and animal species that live in this harsh environment.  This afternoon, you may want to join us for a visit to the Hubbard Museum in nearby Ruidoso, chronicling the cultural and environmental history of the American West.  Fine &amp;#224; la carte dining is on the menu tonight at the resort&apos;s signature restaurant, Wendell&apos;s, amidst spectacular views.  Meals BD</description>
  <overnight>Inn of the Mountain Gods Resort &amp; Casino, Mescalero, NM</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="4">
  <title>Discover Albuquerque / Santa Fe</title>
  <description>Journey to Albuquerque, New Mexico&apos;s largest city, whose modern sprawl surrounds a charming 300&amp;#45;year&amp;#45;old Old Town which grew from a farming village and military outpost on El Camino Real.  Explore Old Town&apos;s delightful mix of cobbled alleys, tiny courtyards, caf&amp;#233;s and historic Pueblo adobe and Spanish Colonial architecture.  Continue on to Santa Fe for three nights at the Eldorado Hotel &amp; Spa, located in the heart of historic Santa Fe.  Meals BD</description>
  <overnight>Eldorado Hotel &amp; Spa, Sante Fe, NM</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="5">
  <title>A City of Many Flavors</title>
  <description>Native American, Spanish and Old West influences blend to form a unique cultural mixture in Santa Fe, crossroads of the Southwest.  Established at a point some 7,000 feet above sea level in the foothills of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains as a Spanish colonial capital in 1610, this colorful multicultural community is the second&amp;#45;oldest city in America.  Experience an authentic taste of southwestern cuisine at a private cooking demonstration with lunch, then take a walking tour of the city&apos;s main plaza, terminus of the famed Santa Fe Trail.  Sights include the nation&apos;s oldest public building, the Palace of the Governors, the seat of regional government for 300 years and today a history museum.  Dinner is on your own tonight.  Meals BL</description>
  <overnight>Eldorado Hotel &amp; Spa, Sante Fe, NM</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="6">
  <title>Ancient Pueblo de Taos</title>
  <description>Venture outside of the city to explore Taos&apos; desert and mountain landscapes; they have long attracted artists seeking inspiration.  Stop at much&amp;#45;photographed Ranchos de Taos to see the 18th&amp;#45;century San Francisco de As&amp;#237;s Mission Church, en route to legendary Pueblo de Taos, the only living Native American community designated both a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a National Historic Landmark.  Storyteller Roberta Meyer shares the legends of the region before a walk to the pueblos over the dramatic Rio Grande Gorge Bridge, where spectacular views provide an awesome backdrop for her fascinating stories.  View multi&amp;#45;storied adobe “apartments” that have been continuously inhabited for over 1,000 years; its current residents still live in the way their ancestors did &amp;#45; without electricity or running water.  Return to Santa Fe for an evening at leisure with an included &amp;#224; la carte dinner at the Old House Restaurant.  Meals BD</description>
  <overnight>Eldorado Hotel &amp; Spa, Santa Fe, NM</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="7">
  <title>Santa Fe / Albuquerque</title>
  <description>Enjoy a private morning visit to the Georgia O&apos;Keeffe Museum to view paintings, drawings, and sculpture by the celebrated artist who called Santa Fe home.  The museum&apos;s collection includes close to 3,000 works, including 1,149 paintings, drawings, and sculptures by O&apos;Keeffe.  Subjects range from her trademark flowers and bleached desert skulls to nudes, landscapes, cityscapes, still lifes, and abstractions, dating from 1901 to 1984.  (On departures during periods when the museum is closed, you&apos;ll visit the Georgia O&apos;Keeffe Research Center, displaying many of her personal effects.) Return to Albuquerque this afternoon, stopping for a guided tour of the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center.  The museum is run by the 19 Native American pueblos of the Rio Grande Valley as a showcase of puebloan history and culture.  Your accommodations continue to entice with a look at local life; the Hyatt Regency Tamaya Resort &amp; Spa celebrates the traditions of the Tamayame people in design and d&amp;#233;cor.  Join us for a farewell dinner tonight.  Meals BD</description>
  <overnight>Hyatt Regency Tamaya Resort &amp; Spa, Albuquerque, NM</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="8">
  <title>Journey Home</title>
  <description>Tour ends: Albuquerque. Fly home anytime. A transfer is included from Hyatt Regency Tamaya Resort &amp;amp; Spa to Albuquerque International Sunport; allow a minimum of two hours for flight check-in. Ask at booking about extending your stay with additional hotel nights.</description>
  <overnight></overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast</meals>
</itineraryDay>
  </itineraryDetails>
  <highlights>		
Carlsbad Caverns ~ White Sands Nat. Monument ~ Albuquerque ~ Taos Pueblo ~ Santa Fe ~ Bandelier Nat. Monument 
</highlights>
  <tauckValues>
    <value order="1">A private lecture by a veteran conservationist on the bats of Carlsbad Caverns National Park</value><value order="2">Private cocktail party, dinner and docent tour at the El Paso Museum of Art, known for its Italian Renaissance collection</value><value order="3">Private cooking demonstration followed by a tasting lunch in Santa Fe</value><value order="4">Private visit to the Georgia OKeeffe Museum in Santa Fe, including 1,149 of the artists paintings, drawings and sculpture showcasing iconic images of the southwest</value><value order="5">Airport transfers upon arrival and departure as detailed</value><value order="6">15 meals, service charges, gratuities to local guides, admission fees, taxes and porterage</value>
  </tauckValues>  
  <departureDates>
    <date>
    <day>30</day>
    <month>5</month>
    <year>2010</year>
    <singlesPrice>2997</singlesPrice>
    <doublesPrice>2370</doublesPrice>
    <triplesPrice>2195</triplesPrice>
    <quadsPrice>0</quadsPrice>
    
  </date>
  <date>
    <day>6</day>
    <month>6</month>
    <year>2010</year>
    <singlesPrice>2997</singlesPrice>
    <doublesPrice>2370</doublesPrice>
    <triplesPrice>2195</triplesPrice>
    <quadsPrice>0</quadsPrice>
    
  </date>
  <date>
    <day>5</day>
    <month>9</month>
    <year>2010</year>
    <singlesPrice>2997</singlesPrice>
    <doublesPrice>2370</doublesPrice>
    <triplesPrice>2195</triplesPrice>
    <quadsPrice>0</quadsPrice>
    
  </date>
  <date>
    <day>12</day>
    <month>9</month>
    <year>2010</year>
    <singlesPrice>2997</singlesPrice>
    <doublesPrice>2370</doublesPrice>
    <triplesPrice>2195</triplesPrice>
    <quadsPrice>0</quadsPrice>
    
  </date>
  <date>
    <day>19</day>
    <month>9</month>
    <year>2010</year>
    <singlesPrice>2997</singlesPrice>
    <doublesPrice>2370</doublesPrice>
    <triplesPrice>2195</triplesPrice>
    <quadsPrice>0</quadsPrice>
    
  </date>
  <date>
    <day>3</day>
    <month>10</month>
    <year>2010</year>
    <singlesPrice>2997</singlesPrice>
    <doublesPrice>2370</doublesPrice>
    <triplesPrice>2195</triplesPrice>
    <quadsPrice>0</quadsPrice>
    
  </date>
  <date>
    <day>10</day>
    <month>10</month>
    <year>2010</year>
    <singlesPrice>2997</singlesPrice>
    <doublesPrice>2370</doublesPrice>
    <triplesPrice>2195</triplesPrice>
    <quadsPrice>0</quadsPrice>
    
  </date>
  <date>
    <day>17</day>
    <month>10</month>
    <year>2010</year>
    <singlesPrice>2997</singlesPrice>
    <doublesPrice>2370</doublesPrice>
    <triplesPrice>2195</triplesPrice>
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  </date>

</departureDates>

</tour><tour>
  <sourceId>RAN2010</sourceId>
  <title>Budapest to Amsterdam by Riverboat</title>
  <summary>
    <![CDATA[Tauck&apos;s Danube, Main, and Rhine river cruise aboard ms Swiss Sapphire, ms Swiss Emerald or ms Swiss Jewel
glides past ancient castles and soaring cathedrals, taking in great
cities including Vienna, Köln, Nürnberg and Bratislava – and revered
UNESCO World Heritage Sites like Schönbrunn Palace and Kölner Dam
(Cologne Cathedral).
]]>
  </summary>
  <description>
    <![CDATA[Travel aboard one of Tauck&apos;s luxury riverboats – ms Swiss Sapphire, ms Swiss Emerald or ms Swiss Jewel –
on a two-week Danube, Main and Rhine river cruise from Budapest to Amsterdam,
gliding past grand cathedrals, medieval monasteries, castles and
vineyards. Pass through five countries including the Netherlands,
Germany, Austria, Slovakia, and Hungary, and explore legendary cities
such as Amsterdam, Vienna, Köln, Nürnberg, Bratislava and Budapest.
Tauck&apos;s all-included private shore excursions take you to many UNESCO
World Heritage Sites, including the historic districts of Budapest,
Vienna, and Bamberg, and the Wachau and Rhine valleys. In Vienna, take
your choice of visits to Schönbrunn Palace or the Hofburg&apos;s Imperial
Silver Room, and attend a grand Imperial Evening in a traditional
palace. In Amsterdam, enjoy a luncheon cruise along the city&apos;s
17th-century canals and tour the famed Rijksmuseum. Visit Köln
Cathedral, Melk Abbey, medieval towns like Regensburg and Dürnstein,
Budapest&apos;s Heroes&apos; Square and much more!
]]>
  </description>
  <link>http://www.tauck.com/tours/europe-tours/central-and-eastern-europe-tours/rhine-river-cruise-ran-2010</link>
  <durationDays>15</durationDays>
  <durationDetails>15 days and 14 nights.</durationDetails>
  <tripType>ESCORTED_CRUISE</tripType>
  <brand>Riverboats</brand>
  <subbrand>Riverboat</subbrand>
  <gradeRating>ALL_AGES</gradeRating>
  <comfortRating>COMFORTABLE_MIXED</comfortRating>
  <startingLocation>Budapest, Hungary</startingLocation>
  <prices>
    <price currency="USD">4990</price>
    <priceDetails><![CDATA[All prices are per person in U.S. dollars. ]]></priceDetails>
  </prices>
  <images>
    <image isMain="true">http://tools.tauck.com/Files/ItineraryImages/ListImages/img_RAN2010_list.jpg</image>
    <image>http://tools.tauck.com/Files/ItineraryImages/altImages/RAN2010_alt1.jpg</image>
    <image>http://tools.tauck.com/Files/ItineraryImages/altImages/RAN2010_alt2.jpg</image>
    <image>http://tools.tauck.com/Files/ItineraryImages/altImages/RAN2010_alt3.jpg</image>
    <image isMap="true">http://tools.tauck.com/Files/ItineraryImages/MapImages/map_RAN2010.jpg</image>
  </images>
  <itinerary>
    <![CDATA[Northbound Itinerary

• = cruise day

• 1. Arrive Budapest
Tour begins: 4:00 PM, Budapest, Hungary. Welcome to Budapest, Hungary’s fascinating capital! A transfer is included from Budapest’s Ferihegy Airport to the ship. Embarkation begins anytime after 4:00 PM aboard ms Swiss Emerald, ms Swiss Sapphire or ms Swiss Jewel. Enjoy dinner aboard your luxury riverboat this evening. Meals D

• 2. Hungary’s Capital, Budapest
Explore both sides of the city today, seeing a mix of architectural masterpieces and historic monuments on a sightseeing tour including Heroes’ Square, the neo-Gothic Parliament building, and Fishermen’s Bastion overlooking the Danube. Join us aboard ship for the Captain’s reception and dinner this evening. Meals BLD

• 3. Historic Bratislava / Danube Cruise 
Arrive in Bratislava, Slovakia’s charming capital; gain insights on centuries of history on a walking tour. Visit Old Town Hall and see the Opera House, Slovak Philharmonic Hall, and St. Martin’s Cathedral. Enjoy Slovakian entertainment aboard the riverboat tonight. Meals BLD

• 4. Experience Imperial Vienna--
Welcome to Vienna – one of Europe’s greatest cities, and formerly the capital of the Habsburg empire. Today’s sightseeing includes your choice of a visit to Schönbrunn Palace or a tour of the Imperial Silver Room in the Hofburg. Receive the royal treatment tonight at a private Imperial Evening in a traditional palace, with a grand dinner accompanied by fine Viennese musicians. Meals BLD

• 5. Dürnstein / Picturesque Melk 
Explore the twisting medieval lanes of Dürnstein and see the hilltop ruins of Kuenringerburg, the castle where Richard the Lionhearted was once held for ransom during the Crusades. Cruise the Wachau Valley to lovely Melk, where you’ll visit the town’s impressive 900-year-old Benedictine Abbey and its Baroque buildings. A wine tasting and local entertainment enhance your night aboard the riverboat. Meals BLD

• 6. Discover Passau / Danube Cruise
Cruise from Austria into Germany today. Renowned for its stained glass, Passau claims a rich historic legacy dating back to Roman times, and boasts a wealth of churches and beautiful Baroque buildings. Explore this ancient Bavarian town on a guided walking tour and go inside St. Stephen’s Cathedral to see the world’s largest church organ. Continue cruising the Danube to Regensburg. Meals BLD

• 7. Ancient Regensburg
Arrive in Regensburg on the Danube, once a campsite of the Roman legions. A guided walking tour reveals its medieval heritage; see Steinerne Brücke (Stone Bridge), the 15th-century Altes Rathaus (Town Hall), and Dom St. Peter, towering high above this riverside town. Meals BLD

• 8. Main-Danube Canal / Nürnberg
Today your riverboat cruises the Main-Danube Canal, which fulfilled an age-old dream of linking the North Sea with the Black Sea; learn about the canal’s history during your transit of its 16 locks. Arrive in the historic city of Nürnberg, which played a key role in World War II and its aftermath. Discover the city’s medieval heart on a walking tour prior to dinner tonight. Sample traditional Nürnberg sausage during tonight’s meal for a true taste of local cuisine. Meals BLD

• 9. Explore Medieval Bamberg
Wake up this morning in Bamberg on the River Main. Situated atop seven hills, this charming medieval Bavarian town is home to a magnificent 13th-century cathedral; see it, along with unique architecture and colorful gardens, during a walking tour of Old Town and time at leisure to explore Bamberg as you please. Meals BLD

• 10. Rothenburg / Würzburg
Rothenburg, on the beautiful “Romantic Road,” awaits you today, living up to its reputation as Europe’s “most perfect fairy-tale town with gingerbread houses and ancient walls.” View the Gothic cathedral, towered walls, and gabled houses along the cobbled lanes of this 13th-century town. On a visit to Würzburg, see the 18th-century Residenz and the Alte Mainbrücke. Tonight, an oompah-pah band! Meals BLD

• 11. Cruise the Main / Miltenberg
A glassblowing demonstration entertains as you cruise the Main to the walled town of Miltenberg. See its hilltop castle, half-timbered houses, and charming marketplace. Meals BLD

• 12. Morning Cruise / Rüdesheim
Spend the morning cruising the Main and Rhine rivers to Rüdesheim. Visit Siegfrieds Mechanisches Musikkabinett, a unique museum displaying one of the world’s largest collections of mechanical musical instruments. Enjoy dinner in an old-world German restaurant. Meals BLD

• 13. Koblenz / Köln 
In Koblenz, choose a walking tour of Old Town or a visit to 13th-century Marksburg Castle for a true taste of medieval life. Cruise the Rhine’s Lorelei Valley to Köln (Cologne), oldest city in Germany. A guided tour visits Kölner Dom, one of Europe’s greatest Gothic cathedrals. Please join us this evening for the Captain’s farewell dinner. Meals BLD

• 14. Discover Amsterdam
After arriving in remarkable Amsterdam, view a host of acclaimed works, including Rembrandt’s famous The Night Watch, at the Rijksmuseum. Get a unique view of the city on a luncheon cruise along its 17th-century canals. Meals BLD

15. Journey Home
Tour ends: Amsterdam, Netherlands. Disembark the riverboat this morning; a transfer is included from the ship to Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport. You should allow a minimum of 2 ½ hours for flight check-in. Meals B

]]>
  </itinerary>
  <itineraryDetails>
    <itineraryDay day="1">
  <title>Arrive Budapest</title>
  <description>Tour begins: 4:00 PM, Budapest, Hungary.  Welcome to Budapest, Hungary&apos;s fascinating capital! A transfer is included from Budapest&apos;s Ferihegy Airport to the ship.  Embarkation begins anytime after 4:00 PM aboard ms Swiss Emerald, ms Swiss Sapphire or ms Swiss Jewel.  Enjoy dinner aboard your luxury riverboat this evening.  Meals D</description>
  <overnight>Cruising aboard the Riverboat</overnight>
  <meals>Dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="2">
  <title>Hungary&apos;s Capital, Budapest</title>
  <description>Explore both sides of the city today, seeing a mix of architectural masterpieces and historic monuments on a sightseeing tour including Heroes&apos; Square, the neo&amp;#45;Gothic Parliament building, and Fishermen&apos;s Bastion overlooking the Danube.  Join us aboard ship for the Captain&apos;s reception and dinner this evening.  Meals BLD</description>
  <overnight>Cruising aboard the Riverboat</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="3">
  <title>Historic Bratislava / Danube Cruise </title>
  <description>Arrive in Bratislava, Slovakia&apos;s charming capital; gain insights on centuries of history on a walking tour.  Visit Old Town Hall and see the Opera House, Slovak Philharmonic Hall, and St.  Martin&apos;s Cathedral.  Enjoy Slovakian entertainment aboard the riverboat tonight.  Meals BLD</description>
  <overnight>Cruising aboard the Riverboat</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="4">
  <title>Experience Imperial Vienna&amp;#45;&amp;#45;</title>
  <description>Welcome to Vienna &amp;#45; one of Europe&apos;s greatest cities, and formerly the capital of the Habsburg empire.  Today&apos;s sightseeing includes your choice of a visit to Sch&amp;#246;nbrunn Palace or a tour of the Imperial Silver Room in the Hofburg.  Receive the royal treatment tonight at a private Imperial Evening in a traditional palace, with a grand dinner accompanied by fine Viennese musicians.  Meals BLD</description>
  <overnight>Cruising aboard the Riverboat</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="5">
  <title>D&amp;#252;rnstein / Picturesque Melk </title>
  <description>Explore the twisting medieval lanes of D&amp;#252;rnstein and see the hilltop ruins of Kuenringerburg, the castle where Richard the Lionhearted was once held for ransom during the Crusades.  Cruise the Wachau Valley to lovely Melk, where you&apos;ll visit the town&apos;s impressive 900&amp;#45;year&amp;#45;old Benedictine Abbey and its Baroque buildings.  A wine tasting and local entertainment enhance your night aboard the riverboat.  Meals BLD</description>
  <overnight>Cruising aboard the Riverboat</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="6">
  <title>Discover Passau / Danube Cruise</title>
  <description>Cruise from Austria into Germany today.  Renowned for its stained glass, Passau claims a rich historic legacy dating back to Roman times, and boasts a wealth of churches and beautiful Baroque buildings.  Explore this ancient Bavarian town on a guided walking tour and go inside St.  Stephen&apos;s Cathedral to see the world&apos;s largest church organ.  Continue cruising the Danube to Regensburg.  Meals BLD</description>
  <overnight>Cruising aboard the Riverboat</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="7">
  <title>Ancient Regensburg</title>
  <description>Arrive in Regensburg on the Danube, once a campsite of the Roman legions.  A guided walking tour reveals its medieval heritage; see Steinerne Br&amp;#252;cke (Stone Bridge), the 15th&amp;#45;century Altes Rathaus (Town Hall), and Dom St.  Peter, towering high above this riverside town.  Meals BLD</description>
  <overnight>Cruising aboard the Riverboat</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="8">
  <title>Main&amp;#45;Danube Canal / N&amp;#252;rnberg</title>
  <description>Today your riverboat cruises the Main&amp;#45;Danube Canal, which fulfilled an age&amp;#45;old dream of linking the North Sea with the Black Sea; learn about the canal&apos;s history during your transit of its 16 locks.  Arrive in the historic city of N&amp;#252;rnberg, which played a key role in World War II and its aftermath.  Discover the city&apos;s medieval heart on a walking tour prior to dinner tonight.  Sample traditional N&amp;#252;rnberg sausage during tonight&apos;s meal for a true taste of local cuisine.  Meals BLD</description>
  <overnight>Cruising aboard the Riverboat</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="9">
  <title>Explore Medieval Bamberg</title>
  <description>Wake up this morning in Bamberg on the River Main.  Situated atop seven hills, this charming medieval Bavarian town is home to a magnificent 13th&amp;#45;century cathedral; see it, along with unique architecture and colorful gardens, during a walking tour of Old Town and time at leisure to explore Bamberg as you please.  Meals BLD</description>
  <overnight>Cruising aboard the Riverboat</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="10">
  <title>Rothenburg / W&amp;#252;rzburg</title>
  <description>Rothenburg, on the beautiful “Romantic Road,” awaits you today, living up to its reputation as Europe&apos;s “most perfect fairy&amp;#45;tale town with gingerbread houses and ancient walls.” View the Gothic cathedral, towered walls, and gabled houses along the cobbled lanes of this 13th&amp;#45;century town.  On a visit to W&amp;#252;rzburg, see the 18th&amp;#45;century Residenz and the Alte Mainbr&amp;#252;cke.  Tonight, an oompah&amp;#45;pah band! Meals BLD</description>
  <overnight>Cruising aboard the Riverboat</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="11">
  <title>Cruise the Main / Miltenberg</title>
  <description>A glassblowing demonstration entertains as you cruise the Main to the walled town of Miltenberg.  See its hilltop castle, half&amp;#45;timbered houses, and charming marketplace.  Meals BLD</description>
  <overnight>Cruising aboard the Riverboat</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="12">
  <title>Morning Cruise / R&amp;#252;desheim</title>
  <description>Spend the morning cruising the Main and Rhine rivers to R&amp;#252;desheim.  Visit Siegfrieds Mechanisches Musikkabinett, a unique museum displaying one of the world&apos;s largest collections of mechanical musical instruments.  Enjoy dinner in an old&amp;#45;world German restaurant.  Meals BLD</description>
  <overnight>Cruising aboard the Riverboat</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="13">
  <title>Koblenz / K&amp;#246;ln </title>
  <description>In Koblenz, choose a walking tour of Old Town or a visit to 13th&amp;#45;century Marksburg Castle for a true taste of medieval life.  Cruise the Rhine&apos;s Lorelei Valley to K&amp;#246;ln (Cologne), oldest city in Germany.  A guided tour visits K&amp;#246;lner Dom, one of Europe&apos;s greatest Gothic cathedrals.  Please join us this evening for the Captain&apos;s farewell dinner.  Meals BLD</description>
  <overnight>Cruising aboard the Riverboat</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="14">
  <title>Discover Amsterdam</title>
  <description>After arriving in remarkable Amsterdam, view a host of acclaimed works, including Rembrandt&apos;s famous The Night Watch, at the Rijksmuseum.  Get a unique view of the city on a luncheon cruise along its 17th&amp;#45;century canals.  Meals BLD</description>
  <overnight>Cruising aboard the Riverboat</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="15">
  <title>Journey Home</title>
  <description>Tour ends: Amsterdam, Netherlands. Disembark the riverboat this morning; a transfer is included from the ship to Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport. You should allow a minimum of 2 ½ hours for flight check-in.</description>
  <overnight></overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast</meals>
</itineraryDay>
  </itineraryDetails>
  <highlights>
		
				Budapest ~ Bratislava ~ Vienna ~ Melk ~ Passau ~ Regensburg ~ Main-Danube Canal ~ Nürnberg ~ Köln ~ Amsterdam 
		
</highlights>
  <tauckValues>
    <value order="1">Gratuities to ship staff, drivers, local guides, Tauck Directors and Tauck Cruise Director</value><value order="2">All private Tauck shore excursions  $969 Value!</value><value order="3">A private Imperial Evening at a traditional palace in Vienna featuring dinner and Viennese performers</value><value order="4">In Amsterdam, a luncheon canal cruise and a tour of the famed Rijksmuseum, home to many masterpieces</value><value order="5">Day exploring Nrnberg, the walled medieval town whose history is forever intertwined with World War II</value><value order="6">Choice of sightseeing in Vienna  a visit to the Imperial Silver Room in the Hofburg or to Schnbrunn Palace</value><value order="7">Memorable visits to Melk Abbey, Klner Dom, and Siegfrieds Mechanisches Musikkabinett in Rdesheim</value><value order="8">Guided sightseeing in the historic European capitals of Bratislava, Slovakia, and Budapest, Hungary</value><value order="9">All meals included. Select meals in local restaurants; wine with dinner on the riverboat</value><value order="10">Service charges, taxes, porterage, airport transfers and applicable fuel surcharges</value><value order="11">Opportunity to add a 4- or 5-day Oberammergau Extension  ask at time of booking!</value>
  </tauckValues>  
  <departureDates>
    <date>
    <day>27</day>
    <month>5</month>
    <year>2010</year>
    <singlesPrice>8806</singlesPrice>
    <doublesPrice>6290</doublesPrice>
    <triplesPrice>9215</triplesPrice>
    <quadsPrice>0</quadsPrice>
    <cabins>
<cabin>
  <categoryCode>RAN20101</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>1</occupancy>
  <description>Cat 1, Base Double *Emerald</description>
  <suppliment>0</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>8806</totalPrice>
</cabin>
<cabin>
  <categoryCode>RAN20101</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>2</occupancy>
  <description>Cat 1, Base Double *Emerald</description>
  <suppliment>0</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>6290</totalPrice>
</cabin>
<cabin>
  <categoryCode>RAN20102</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>1</occupancy>
  <description>Cat 2, Mini-Suite *Emerald</description>
  <suppliment>560</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>9366</totalPrice>
</cabin>
<cabin>
  <categoryCode>RAN20102</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>2</occupancy>
  <description>Cat 2, Mini-Suite *Emerald</description>
  <suppliment>400</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>6690</totalPrice>
</cabin>
<cabin>
  <categoryCode>RAN20103</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>1</occupancy>
  <description>Cat 3, Double *Ruby</description>
  <suppliment>1820</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>10626</totalPrice>
</cabin>
<cabin>
  <categoryCode>RAN20103</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>2</occupancy>
  <description>Cat 3, Double *Ruby</description>
  <suppliment>1300</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>7590</totalPrice>
</cabin>
<cabin>
  <categoryCode>RAN20104</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>1</occupancy>
  <description>Cat 4, Mini-Suite *Ruby</description>
  <suppliment>4138</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>12944</totalPrice>
</cabin>
<cabin>
  <categoryCode>RAN20104</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>2</occupancy>
  <description>Cat 4, Mini-Suite *Ruby</description>
  <suppliment>1800</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>8090</totalPrice>
</cabin>
<cabin>
  <categoryCode>RAN20105</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>1</occupancy>
  <description>Cat 5, Mini-Suite *Diamond</description>
  <suppliment>6562</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>15368</totalPrice>
</cabin>
<cabin>
  <categoryCode>RAN20105</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>2</occupancy>
  <description>Cat 5, Mini-Suite *Diamond</description>
  <suppliment>2750</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>9040</totalPrice>
</cabin>
<cabin>
  <categoryCode>RAN20106</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>1</occupancy>
  <description>Cat 6, Suite *Diamond</description>
  <suppliment>8602</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>17408</totalPrice>
</cabin>
<cabin>
  <categoryCode>RAN20106</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>2</occupancy>
  <description>Cat 6, Suite *Diamond</description>
  <suppliment>3950</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>10240</totalPrice>
</cabin></cabins>
  </date>

</departureDates>

</tour><tour>
  <sourceId>RAS2010</sourceId>
  <title>Amsterdam to Budapest by Riverboat</title>
  <summary>
    <![CDATA[Tauck&apos;s Danube, Main, and Rhine cruise aboard ms Swiss Sapphire, ms Swiss Emerald or ms Swiss Jewel glides past ancient castles and soaring cathedrals, taking in great cities including Vienna, Köln, Nürnberg and Bratislava – and revered UNESCO World Heritage Sites like Schönbrunn Palace and Kölner Dam (Cologne Cathedral).
]]>
  </summary>
  <description>
    <![CDATA[Travel aboard one of Tauck&apos;s luxury riverboats – ms Swiss Sapphire, ms Swiss Emerald or ms Swiss Jewel –
on a two-week Danube, Main and Rhine cruise from Amsterdam to Budapest,
gliding past grand cathedrals, medieval monasteries, castles and
vineyards. Pass through five countries including the Netherlands,
Germany, Austria, Slovakia, and Hungary, and explore legendary cities
such as Amsterdam, Vienna, Köln, Nürnberg, Bratislava and Budapest.
Tauck&apos;s all-included private shore excursions take you to many UNESCO
World Heritage Sites, including the historic districts of Budapest,
Vienna, and Bamberg, and the Wachau and Rhine valleys. In Vienna, take
your choice of visits to Schönbrunn Palace or the Hofburg&apos;s Imperial
Silver Room, and attend a grand Imperial Evening in a traditional
palace. In Amsterdam, enjoy a luncheon cruise along the city&apos;s
17th-century canals and tour the famed Rijksmuseum. Visit Köln
Cathedral, Melk Abbey, medieval towns like Regensburg and Dürnstein,
Budapest&apos;s Heroes&apos; Square and much more!
]]>
  </description>
  <link>http://www.tauck.com/tours/europe-tours/central-and-eastern-europe-tours/rhine-cruise-ras-2010</link>
  <durationDays>15</durationDays>
  <durationDetails>15 days and 14 nights.</durationDetails>
  <tripType>ESCORTED_CRUISE</tripType>
  <brand>Riverboats</brand>
  <subbrand>Riverboat</subbrand>
  <gradeRating>ALL_AGES</gradeRating>
  <comfortRating>COMFORTABLE_MIXED</comfortRating>
  <startingLocation>Amsterdam, Netherlands</startingLocation>
  <prices>
    <price currency="USD">4990</price>
    <priceDetails><![CDATA[All prices are per person in U.S. dollars. ]]></priceDetails>
  </prices>
  <images>
    <image isMain="true">http://tools.tauck.com/Files/ItineraryImages/ListImages/img_RAS2010_list.jpg</image>
    <image>http://tools.tauck.com/Files/ItineraryImages/altImages/RAS2010_alt1.jpg</image>
    <image>http://tools.tauck.com/Files/ItineraryImages/altImages/RAS2010_alt2.jpg</image>
    <image>http://tools.tauck.com/Files/ItineraryImages/altImages/RAS2010_alt3.jpg</image>
    <image isMap="true">http://tools.tauck.com/Files/ItineraryImages/MapImages/map_RAS2010.jpg</image>
  </images>
  <itinerary>
    <![CDATA[Southbound Itinerary

• = cruise day

• 1. Arrive Amsterdam
Tour begins: 4:00 PM, Amsterdam, Netherlands. Welcome to Amsterdam! Transfers are included from Schiphol Airport to the ship. Embarkation begins anytime after 4:00 PM aboard ms Swiss Emerald, ms Swiss Sapphire or ms Swiss Jewel. A traditional Dutch gin toast, followed by dinner, provides a warm welcome for the first night on the riverboat. Meals D

• 2. Discover Art &amp; More in Amsterdam
Your guided tour of the famed Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam is really inspiring – a firsthand look at Rembrandt’s masterpiece The Night Watch is like meeting the artist himself, and you’ll love seeing acclaimed works by well-known Dutch Masters. A sightseeing cruise by canal boat along the city’s network of concentric, tree-lined 17th-century canals provides a unique view of Amsterdam’s blend of architectural styles – they date all the way back to medieval times. Back aboard the riverboat, the Captain’s welcome reception is followed by a special welcome dinner and an evening of live music. Meals BLD

• 3. Historic Treasures of Köln
A morning cruise along the River Rhine to Köln (Cologne), the oldest city in Germany, is enriched by commentary from your Tauck Director and lunch al fresco on the sun deck. A guided walking tour of Köln includes a visit to twin-spired Kölner Dom, one of Europe’s most beloved Gothic cathedrals, plus free time to explore Cathedral Square and Köln’s Hohe Strasse pedestrian area in the afternoon. Meals BLD

• 4. Lorelei Valley / Rüdesheim 
In Koblenz this morning you have a choice of taking a walking tour through the historic Old Town or visiting 13th-century Marksburg Castle for an in-depth look at life in a medieval castle. Your Tauck Director tells some great tales as you cruise through the Lorelei Valley to Rüdesheim, where you’ll visit Siegfrieds Mechanisches Musikkabinett. Dine off the riverboat tonight in an old-world German restaurant. Meals BLD

• 5. Miltenberg / Cruise the Main
Cruising along the river is filled with lectures and special demonstrations such as glass blowing or cooking. Wind your way along the Main to the walled town of Miltenberg, whose roots date back to Roman times – view the town’s hilltop castle, half-timbered houses and picturesque marketplace. Enjoy a Bavarian-themed dinner as you continue through lush valleys to Worth. Meals BLD

• 6. Rothenburg / Würzburg
Travel by land to Rothenburg, on the beautiful Romantic Road, where a walking tour shows you the Gothic cathedral, towered walls and gabled houses along the cobbled lanes of this 13th-century town. On a visit to Würzburg, tour the Baroque palace, the 18th-century Residenz, and see the ornate Alte Mainbrücke. Tonight – an oompa band! Meals BLD

• 7. Explore Medieval Bamberg
A morning cruise along the Main precedes a journey to Bamberg. Situated atop seven hills, this endearing Bavarian city is home to a magnificent 13th-century cathedral; see its unique architecture and colorful gardens during a walking tour of Old Town. Spend some time at leisure exploring Bamberg as you please. Meals BLD

• 8. Main-Danube Canal / Nürnberg
Spend a morning cruising the Main-Danube Canal, which fulfilled a centuries-old dream of linking the North Sea with the Black Sea; learn about the canal’s history from a local expert during your transit. Arrive in the historic city of Nürnberg, which played a key role in World War II and its aftermath. After lunch and some entertainment at a local restaurant, discover the city’s medieval heart on a walking tour prior to returning to the riverboat for dinner. Meals BLD

• 9. Ancient Regensburg
Arrive in Regensburg, once a campsite of the Roman legions; see the Steinerne Brücke (Stone Bridge), the 15th-century Altes Rathaus (Town Hall), and Dom St. Peter, towering high above the town. Spend the afternoon as you please in Regensburg before setting off for Passau. Meals BLD

• 10. Discover Passau / Danube Cruise
A guided walking tour of Passau, renowned for its stained glass, takes you through a historic legacy that begins in ancient Roman times! You’ll cruise the Danube this afternoon, with great insights from your Tauck Director and perhaps a tour of the riverboat’s galley! Meals BLD

• 11. Picturesque Melk / Dürnstein
Step back in time today on a guided visit to the much- photographed 900-year-old Melk Abbey, and a walking tour through the twisting old lanes of Dürnstein. See the hilltop ruins of a castle where Richard the Lionhearted was once held for ransom, and attend a wine tasting. Meals BLD

• 12. An Imperial Day &amp; Night in Vienna--
Welcome to Vienna – one of Europe’s greatest cities, and formerly the capital of the Habsburg empire. Morning sightseeing includes your choice of a visit to Schönbrunn Palace or a tour of the Imperial Silver Room in the Hofburg. Tonight’s Tauck Exclusive will be long remembered – a private Imperial Evening in a traditional palace, with a grand dinner accompanied by fine Viennese musicians. Meals BLD

• 13. Historic Bratislava, Slovakia 
Awaken in Bratislava, Slovakia’s magical capital city; a walking tour explores thousands of years of history. Join the Captain tonight for a special farewell cocktail reception, a farewell dinner, and a musical performance. Meals BLD

• 14. Hungary’s Capital, Budapest
Remarkable Budapest is divided by the Danube into two sections, Buda and Pest. Explore both on a sightseeing tour including patriotic Heroes’ Square in Pest, the neo-Gothic Parliament building, and Fishermen’s Bastion. Meals BLD

15. Journey Home
Tour ends: Budapest, Hungary. Disembark this morning; a transfer from your riverboat to Budapest’s Ferihegy Airport is included. Allow 2 ½ hours for check-in. Meals B
]]>
  </itinerary>
  <itineraryDetails>
    <itineraryDay day="1">
  <title>Arrive Amsterdam</title>
  <description>Tour begins: 4:00 PM, Amsterdam, Netherlands.  Welcome to Amsterdam! Transfers are included from Schiphol Airport to the ship.  Embarkation begins anytime after 4:00 PM aboard ms Swiss Emerald, ms Swiss Sapphire or ms Swiss Jewel.  A traditional Dutch gin toast, followed by dinner, provides a warm welcome for the first night on the riverboat.  Meals D</description>
  <overnight>Cruising aboard the Riverboat</overnight>
  <meals>Dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="2">
  <title>Discover Art &amp; More in Amsterdam</title>
  <description>Your guided tour of the famed Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam is really inspiring &amp;#45; a firsthand look at Rembrandt&apos;s masterpiece The Night Watch is like meeting the artist himself, and you&apos;ll love seeing acclaimed works by well&amp;#45;known Dutch Masters.  A sightseeing cruise by canal boat along the city&apos;s network of concentric, tree&amp;#45;lined 17th&amp;#45;century canals provides a unique view of Amsterdam&apos;s blend of architectural styles &amp;#45; they date all the way back to medieval times.  Back aboard the riverboat, the Captain&apos;s welcome reception is followed by a special welcome dinner and an evening of live music.  Meals BLD</description>
  <overnight>Cruising aboard the Riverboat</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="3">
  <title>Historic Treasures of K&amp;#246;ln</title>
  <description>A morning cruise along the River Rhine to K&amp;#246;ln (Cologne), the oldest city in Germany, is enriched by commentary from your Tauck Director and lunch al fresco on the sun deck.  A guided walking tour of K&amp;#246;ln includes a visit to twin&amp;#45;spired K&amp;#246;lner Dom, one of Europe&apos;s most beloved Gothic cathedrals, plus free time to explore Cathedral Square and K&amp;#246;ln&apos;s Hohe Strasse pedestrian area in the afternoon.  Meals BLD</description>
  <overnight>Cruising aboard the Riverboat</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="4">
  <title>Lorelei Valley / R&amp;#252;desheim </title>
  <description>In Koblenz this morning you have a choice of taking a walking tour through the historic Old Town or visiting 13th&amp;#45;century Marksburg Castle for an in&amp;#45;depth look at life in a medieval castle.  Your Tauck Director tells some great tales as you cruise through the Lorelei Valley to R&amp;#252;desheim, where you&apos;ll visit Siegfrieds Mechanisches Musikkabinett.  Dine off the riverboat tonight in an old&amp;#45;world German restaurant.  Meals BLD</description>
  <overnight>Cruising aboard the Riverboat</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="5">
  <title>Miltenberg / Cruise the Main</title>
  <description>Cruising along the river is filled with lectures and special demonstrations such as glass blowing or cooking.  Wind your way along the Main to the walled town of Miltenberg, whose roots date back to Roman times &amp;#45; view the town&apos;s hilltop castle, half&amp;#45;timbered houses and picturesque marketplace.  Enjoy a Bavarian&amp;#45;themed dinner as you continue through lush valleys to Worth.  Meals BLD</description>
  <overnight>Cruising aboard the Riverboat</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="6">
  <title>Rothenburg / W&amp;#252;rzburg</title>
  <description>Travel by land to Rothenburg, on the beautiful Romantic Road, where a walking tour shows you the Gothic cathedral, towered walls and gabled houses along the cobbled lanes of this 13th&amp;#45;century town.  On a visit to W&amp;#252;rzburg, tour the Baroque palace, the 18th&amp;#45;century Residenz, and see the ornate Alte Mainbr&amp;#252;cke.  Tonight &amp;#45; an oompa band! Meals BLD</description>
  <overnight>Cruising aboard the Riverboat</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="7">
  <title>Explore Medieval Bamberg</title>
  <description>A morning cruise along the Main precedes a journey to Bamberg.  Situated atop seven hills, this endearing Bavarian city is home to a magnificent 13th&amp;#45;century cathedral; see its unique architecture and colorful gardens during a walking tour of Old Town.  Spend some time at leisure exploring Bamberg as you please.  Meals BLD</description>
  <overnight>Cruising aboard the Riverboat</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="8">
  <title>Main&amp;#45;Danube Canal / N&amp;#252;rnberg</title>
  <description>Spend a morning cruising the Main&amp;#45;Danube Canal, which fulfilled a centuries&amp;#45;old dream of linking the North Sea with the Black Sea; learn about the canal&apos;s history from a local expert during your transit.  Arrive in the historic city of N&amp;#252;rnberg, which played a key role in World War II and its aftermath.  After lunch and some entertainment at a local restaurant, discover the city&apos;s medieval heart on a walking tour prior to returning to the riverboat for dinner.  Meals BLD</description>
  <overnight>Cruising aboard the Riverboat</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="9">
  <title>Ancient Regensburg</title>
  <description>Arrive in Regensburg, once a campsite of the Roman legions; see the Steinerne Br&amp;#252;cke (Stone Bridge), the 15th&amp;#45;century Altes Rathaus (Town Hall), and Dom St.  Peter, towering high above the town.  Spend the afternoon as you please in Regensburg before setting off for Passau.  Meals BLD</description>
  <overnight>Cruising aboard the Riverboat</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="10">
  <title>Discover Passau / Danube Cruise</title>
  <description>A guided walking tour of Passau, renowned for its stained glass, takes you through a historic legacy that begins in ancient Roman times! You&apos;ll cruise the Danube this afternoon, with great insights from your Tauck Director and perhaps a tour of the riverboat&apos;s galley! Meals BLD</description>
  <overnight>Cruising aboard the Riverboat</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="11">
  <title>Picturesque Melk / D&amp;#252;rnstein</title>
  <description>Step back in time today on a guided visit to the much&amp;#45; photographed 900&amp;#45;year&amp;#45;old Melk Abbey, and a walking tour through the twisting old lanes of D&amp;#252;rnstein.  See the hilltop ruins of a castle where Richard the Lionhearted was once held for ransom, and attend a wine tasting.  Meals BLD</description>
  <overnight>Cruising aboard the Riverboat</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="12">
  <title>An Imperial Day &amp; Night in Vienna&amp;#45;&amp;#45;</title>
  <description>Welcome to Vienna &amp;#45; one of Europe&apos;s greatest cities, and formerly the capital of the Habsburg empire.  Morning sightseeing includes your choice of a visit to Sch&amp;#246;nbrunn Palace or a tour of the Imperial Silver Room in the Hofburg.  Tonight&apos;s Tauck Exclusive will be long remembered &amp;#45; a private Imperial Evening in a traditional palace, with a grand dinner accompanied by fine Viennese musicians.  Meals BLD</description>
  <overnight>Cruising aboard the Riverboat</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="13">
  <title>Historic Bratislava, Slovakia </title>
  <description>Awaken in Bratislava, Slovakia&apos;s magical capital city; a walking tour explores thousands of years of history.  Join the Captain tonight for a special farewell cocktail reception, a farewell dinner, and a musical performance.  Meals BLD</description>
  <overnight>Cruising aboard the Riverboat</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="14">
  <title>Hungary&apos;s Capital, Budapest</title>
  <description>Remarkable Budapest is divided by the Danube into two sections, Buda and Pest.  Explore both on a sightseeing tour including patriotic Heroes&apos; Square in Pest, the neo&amp;#45;Gothic Parliament building, and Fishermen&apos;s Bastion.  Meals BLD</description>
  <overnight>Cruising aboard the Riverboat</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="15">
  <title>Journey Home</title>
  <description>Tour ends: Budapest, Hungary. Disembark this morning; a transfer from your riverboat to Budapest’s Ferihegy Airport is included. Allow 2 ½ hours for check-in.&amp;nbsp;</description>
  <overnight></overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast</meals>
</itineraryDay>
  </itineraryDetails>
  <highlights>
		
				
						
								
										
												Amsterdam ~ Köln ~ Bamberg ~ Main-Danube Canal ~ Nürnberg ~ Regensburg ~ Melk ~ Vienna ~ Bratislava ~ Budapest 
										
								
						
				
		
</highlights>
  <tauckValues>
    <value order="1">Gratuities to ship staff, drivers, local guides, Tauck Directors and Tauck Cruise Director</value><value order="2">All private Tauck shore excursions  $969 Value!</value><value order="3">A private Imperial Evening at a traditional palace in Vienna featuring dinner and Viennese performers</value><value order="4">In Amsterdam, a luncheon canal cruise and a tour of the famed Rijksmuseum, home to many masterpieces</value><value order="5">Day exploring Nurnberg, the walled medieval town whose history is forever intertwined with World War II</value><value order="6">Choice of sightseeing in Vienna  a visit to the Imperial Silver Room in the Hofburg or to Schnbrunn Palace</value><value order="7">Memorable visits to Melk Abbey, Kolner Dom, and Siegfrieds Mechanisches Musikkabinett in Rudesheim</value><value order="8">Guided sightseeing in the historic European capitals of Bratislava, Slovakia, and Budapest, Hungary</value><value order="9">All meals included. Select meals in local restaurants; wine with dinner on the riverboat</value><value order="10">Service charges, taxes, porterage, airport transfers and applicable fuel surcharges</value><value order="11">Opportunity to add a 4- or 5-day Oberammergau Extension  ask at time of booking!</value>
  </tauckValues>  
  <departureDates>
    <date>
    <day>15</day>
    <month>9</month>
    <year>2010</year>
    <singlesPrice>8806</singlesPrice>
    <doublesPrice>6290</doublesPrice>
    <triplesPrice>9215</triplesPrice>
    <quadsPrice>0</quadsPrice>
    <cabins>
<cabin>
  <categoryCode>RAS20101</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>1</occupancy>
  <description>Cat 1, Base Double *Emerald</description>
  <suppliment>0</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>8806</totalPrice>
</cabin>
<cabin>
  <categoryCode>RAS20101</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>2</occupancy>
  <description>Cat 1, Base Double *Emerald</description>
  <suppliment>0</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>6290</totalPrice>
</cabin>
<cabin>
  <categoryCode>RAS20102</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>1</occupancy>
  <description>Cat 2, Mini-Suite *Emerald</description>
  <suppliment>560</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>9366</totalPrice>
</cabin>
<cabin>
  <categoryCode>RAS20102</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>2</occupancy>
  <description>Cat 2, Mini-Suite *Emerald</description>
  <suppliment>400</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>6690</totalPrice>
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<cabin>
  <categoryCode>RAS20103</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>1</occupancy>
  <description>Cat 3, Double *Ruby</description>
  <suppliment>1820</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>10626</totalPrice>
</cabin>
<cabin>
  <categoryCode>RAS20103</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>2</occupancy>
  <description>Cat 3, Double *Ruby</description>
  <suppliment>1300</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>7590</totalPrice>
</cabin>
<cabin>
  <categoryCode>RAS20104</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>1</occupancy>
  <description>Cat 4, Mini-Suite *Ruby</description>
  <suppliment>4138</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>12944</totalPrice>
</cabin>
<cabin>
  <categoryCode>RAS20104</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>2</occupancy>
  <description>Cat 4, Mini-Suite *Ruby</description>
  <suppliment>1800</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>8090</totalPrice>
</cabin>
<cabin>
  <categoryCode>RAS20105</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>1</occupancy>
  <description>Cat 5, Mini-Suite *Diamond</description>
  <suppliment>6562</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>15368</totalPrice>
</cabin>
<cabin>
  <categoryCode>RAS20105</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>2</occupancy>
  <description>Cat 5, Mini-Suite *Diamond</description>
  <suppliment>2750</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>9040</totalPrice>
</cabin>
<cabin>
  <categoryCode>RAS20106</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>1</occupancy>
  <description>Cat 6, Suite *Diamond</description>
  <suppliment>8602</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>17408</totalPrice>
</cabin>
<cabin>
  <categoryCode>RAS20106</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>2</occupancy>
  <description>Cat 6, Suite *Diamond</description>
  <suppliment>3950</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>10240</totalPrice>
</cabin></cabins>
  </date>
  <date>
    <day>23</day>
    <month>9</month>
    <year>2010</year>
    <singlesPrice>8806</singlesPrice>
    <doublesPrice>6290</doublesPrice>
    <triplesPrice>9215</triplesPrice>
    <quadsPrice>0</quadsPrice>
    <cabins>
<cabin>
  <categoryCode>RAS20101</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>1</occupancy>
  <description>Cat 1, Base Double *Emerald</description>
  <suppliment>0</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>8806</totalPrice>
</cabin>
<cabin>
  <categoryCode>RAS20101</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>2</occupancy>
  <description>Cat 1, Base Double *Emerald</description>
  <suppliment>0</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>6290</totalPrice>
</cabin>
<cabin>
  <categoryCode>RAS20102</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>1</occupancy>
  <description>Cat 2, Mini-Suite *Emerald</description>
  <suppliment>560</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>9366</totalPrice>
</cabin>
<cabin>
  <categoryCode>RAS20102</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>2</occupancy>
  <description>Cat 2, Mini-Suite *Emerald</description>
  <suppliment>400</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>6690</totalPrice>
</cabin>
<cabin>
  <categoryCode>RAS20103</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>1</occupancy>
  <description>Cat 3, Double *Ruby</description>
  <suppliment>1820</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>10626</totalPrice>
</cabin>
<cabin>
  <categoryCode>RAS20103</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>2</occupancy>
  <description>Cat 3, Double *Ruby</description>
  <suppliment>1300</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>7590</totalPrice>
</cabin>
<cabin>
  <categoryCode>RAS20104</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>1</occupancy>
  <description>Cat 4, Mini-Suite *Ruby</description>
  <suppliment>4138</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>12944</totalPrice>
</cabin>
<cabin>
  <categoryCode>RAS20104</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>2</occupancy>
  <description>Cat 4, Mini-Suite *Ruby</description>
  <suppliment>1800</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>8090</totalPrice>
</cabin>
<cabin>
  <categoryCode>RAS20105</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>1</occupancy>
  <description>Cat 5, Mini-Suite *Diamond</description>
  <suppliment>6562</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>15368</totalPrice>
</cabin>
<cabin>
  <categoryCode>RAS20105</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>2</occupancy>
  <description>Cat 5, Mini-Suite *Diamond</description>
  <suppliment>2750</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>9040</totalPrice>
</cabin>
<cabin>
  <categoryCode>RAS20106</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>1</occupancy>
  <description>Cat 6, Suite *Diamond</description>
  <suppliment>8602</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>17408</totalPrice>
</cabin>
<cabin>
  <categoryCode>RAS20106</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>2</occupancy>
  <description>Cat 6, Suite *Diamond</description>
  <suppliment>3950</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>10240</totalPrice>
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  </date>

</departureDates>

</tour><tour>
  <sourceId>RB2010</sourceId>
  <title>Russian Glories, Baltic Treasures</title>
  <summary>
    <![CDATA[Experience the sweep of history on Tauck&apos;s Baltics and Russia tour, from Old World cities in Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania to St. Petersburg to Moscow&apos;s Kremlin and Red Square – enjoying Tauck Exclusives such as an early morning visit to The State Hermitage Museum, and a tour and lunch in Stalin&apos;s once-secret underground World War II bunker. 
]]>
  </summary>
  <description>
    <![CDATA[Tauck&apos;s Baltics and Russia tour offers an insider&apos;s view of Old World Baltic cities, as well as St. Petersburg and Moscow, Russia. Explore Helsinki, Finland; Riga, Latvia; Vilnius, Lithuania; and Tallinn, Estonia – with their age-old castles, medieval lanes, and incredible architecture. Travel by air, coach, train and high-speed ferry. In Moscow, visit the Kremlin and Red Square, with a private lecture by an insider from the Soviet era. In St. Petersburg, visit Peter and Paul Fortress, enjoy high tea and an evening of Russian ballet, and a gala &quot;Tchaikovsky Night&quot; dinner with a 13-piece orchestra. Special Tauck Exclusives include a guided visit to The State Hermitage Museum when crowds are fewer, and a guided tour of Stalin&apos;s long-hidden secret World War II Moscow bunker... with lunch! 
]]>
  </description>
  <link>http://www.tauck.com/tours/europe-tours/russia-tours/russia-tour-rb-2010</link>
  <durationDays>14</durationDays>
  <durationDetails>14 days and 13 nights.</durationDetails>
  <tripType>ESCORTED_TOUR</tripType>
  <brand>TWD</brand>
  <subbrand>Europe</subbrand>
  <gradeRating>ALL_AGES</gradeRating>
  <comfortRating>COMFORTABLE_MIXED</comfortRating>
  <startingLocation>Vilnius, Lithuania</startingLocation>
  <prices>
    <price currency="USD">6690</price>
    <priceDetails><![CDATA[All prices are per person in U.S. dollars. ]]></priceDetails>
  </prices>
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    <![CDATA[]]>
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  <itineraryDetails>
    <itineraryDay day="1">
  <title>Arrive Vilnius, Lithuania</title>
  <description>Tour begins: 6:00 PM, Radisson SAS Astorija Hotel. Welcome to Lithuania! A transfer is included from Vilnius Airport to your first night’s hotel, Radisson SAS Astorija, located in the heart of Old Town Vilnius; its historic center was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its impressive complex of classical buildings featuring Renaissance, Gothic and Baroque architecture. Meet your fellow travelers at our welcome dinner tonight.</description>
  <overnight>Radisson SAS Astorija Hotel, Vilnius, Lithuania</overnight>
  <meals>Dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="2">
  <title>The Heart of Old Town Vilnius</title>
  <description>Experience a living museum of Baroque architecture on a walking tour of Vilnius’ Old Town. See the 16th-century, Renaissance-style Gates of Dawn and Cathedral Square; if you wish, join us for a visit to the city’s KGB Museum. Venture off-the-beaten track to medieval Trakai for lunch; tour its ancient castle with a local guide.</description>
  <overnight>Radisson SAS Astorija Hotel, Vilnius, Lithuania</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="3">
  <title>Travel the Yellow Roads to Latvia</title>
  <description>Journey to the culturally rich country of Latvia along the Yellow Roads through pristine countryside, stopping in seaside Jurmala en route to the capital, Riga. Visit Riga’s opulent 19th-century Opera House, reconstructed in the 1990s. Your hotel is set in the heart of the old city.</description>
  <overnight>Grand Palace Hotel, Riga, Latvia</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="4">
  <title>Discover Historic Riga</title>
  <description>Drive through Riga’s Art-Nouveau New Town en route to a walking tour of Riga Market and Old Town. See Riga Castle, the Swedish Gate and the Three Brothers Medieval Dwelling Houses. Those who wish may explore somber reminders of the tragic years of the Holocaust at the Jewish Museum and old Jewish Cemetery (holidays permitting). Enjoy an à la carte dinner at the Grand Palace Hotel this evening.</description>
  <overnight>Grand Palace Hotel, Riga, Latvia</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="5">
  <title>Medieval Tallinn, Capital of Estonia</title>
  <description>Cross the border into Estonia this morning and drive to the seaside city of Parnu for lunch. Arrive mid-afternoon in Tallinn, designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its well-preserved medieval town. A guided walking tour through its cobblestone streets reveals 13th-century Toompea Castle (home to the Estonian Parliament) and bustling Market Square. Dine à la carte this evening at the elegant Gloria, one of Tallinn’s most acclaimed restaurants.</description>
  <overnight>Swissôtel Tallinn, Estonia</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="6">
  <title>Ferry to Finland / Sights of Helsinki</title>
  <description>Cruise in first class and have lunch aboard a high-speed ferry to Helsinki, Finland’s capital, showcasing the city’s range of diverse architectural styles. Join us for a Helsinki sightseeing tour on which you’ll view the lovely Neoclassical Senate Square, Helsinki Cathedral, and the colorful Market Square. Visit the 1960s-era Temppeliaukio (“Rock”) Church, and see the Sibelius Monument and Finlandia Hall. Dinner tonight is at the Hotel Haven.</description>
  <overnight>Hotel Haven, Helsinki, Finland</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="7">
  <title>Train to St. Petersburg</title>
  <description>Board an early morning train for glorious St. Petersburg and a four-night stay at the Grand Hotel Europe, itself a historic landmark on Nevsky Prospekt in the heart of the city. An afternoon orientation tour includes a visit to the 19th-century Church of Our Savior on Spilled Blood, built on the spot where Czar Alexander II was slain.</description>
  <overnight>Grand Hotel Europe, St. Petersburg, Russia</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="8">
  <title>Peterhof / High Tea / Russian Ballet</title>
  <description>Visit the Grand Choral Synagogue (holidays permitting), and journey to Petrodvorets to visit the Summer Palace of Peter the Great (Peterhof). Return to St. Petersburg via hydrofoil for high tea at the Hotel Europe, followed by a memorable evening of Russian ballet (schedule subject to change).</description>
  <overnight>Grand Hotel Europe, St. Petersburg, Russia</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="9">
  <title>Treasures of St. Petersburg</title>
  <description>An excursion to Pushkin explores opulent Catherine Palace and its restored Amber Room. Then a guided city tour of St. Petersburg visits the imposing Peter and Paul Fortress and its adjacent Cathedral, burial place of the czars. Spend the evening enjoying St. Petersburg as you please.</description>
  <overnight>Grand Hotel Europe, St. Petersburg, Russia</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="10">
  <title>The Hermitage / “Tchaikovsky Night”</title>
  <description>Tauck takes you on a guided visit – when crowds are fewer – to The State Hermitage Museum, featuring some three million pieces of art and archaeological finds; view ancient gold artifacts in the Gold Room. Join us for a grand “Tchaikovsky Night” dinner at the L’Europe restaurant featuring a 13-piece orchestra and two ballet dancers from the Marinsky Theatre.</description>
  <overnight>Grand Hotel Europe, St. Petersburg, Russia</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="11">
  <title>Fly to Moscow</title>
  <description>Fly to Moscow, Russia’s capital city, for a three-night stay in a room with views of the Kremlin, Red Square and St. Basil’s Cathedral! By special permission, Tauck has arranged an exclusive visit to Stalin’s hidden World War II bunker; relive history in the central command room, see his personal effects in his private office, and have lunch. Explore legendary Red Square with a local guide.</description>
  <overnight>Hotel Baltschug Kempinski Moscow, Russia</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="12">
  <title>Visit the Incomparable Kremlin</title>
  <description>Meet a Kremlin insider for a lecture on the history of Russia, before touring the iconic, 64-acre Kremlin, the center of Russian government and power for centuries. Visit the Armory Chambers, Assumption Cathedral and the Cathedral of the Archangel on Cathedral Square. An à la carte dinner in Moscow is included this evening.</description>
  <overnight>Hotel Baltschug Kempinski Moscow, Russia</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="13">
  <title>Moscow Underground</title>
  <description>Tour the Moscow Metro, a virtual underground “art museum” showcasing chandeliers, sculptures, stained-glass windows and beautiful mosaics, before visiting the renowned State Tretyakov Gallery with a local guide. Please join us for tonight’s festive farewell reception and dinner.</description>
  <overnight>Hotel Baltschug Kempinski Moscow, Russia</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="14">
  <title>Journey Home</title>
  <description>Tour ends: Moscow, Russia. A transfer is included from Hotel Baltschug Kempinski Moscow to the Sheremetyevo or Domodedovo Airport. You should allow a minimum of 2 1/2 hours for check-in at the airport.</description>
  <overnight>Hotel Baltschug Kempinski Moscow, Russia</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast</meals>
</itineraryDay>
  </itineraryDetails>
  <highlights>		
Helsinki ~ Estonia ~ Latvia ~ Lithuania ~ The Kremlin ~ St. Petersburg ~ Moscow ~ Petrodvorets 
</highlights>
  <tauckValues>
    <value order="1">TAUCKS YELLOW ROADS! Take a memorable drive along coastal roads, through peaceful forests and idyllic farms as you travel from Lithuania to Latvia and Estonia</value><value order="2">Tauck Exclusive  a guided visit to The State Hermitage Museum to see its treasures when crowds are fewer</value><value order="3">Tauck Exclusive  a visit to Stalins secret Moscow bunker where Russias World War II strategies were conducted</value><value order="4">A gala Tchaikovsky Night dinner at the Grand Hotel Europe in St. Petersburg with a 13-piece orchestra</value><value order="5">High tea and an evening of Russian ballet</value><value order="6">A private lecture with an insider from the Soviet era, and an expert on the history of Moscow</value><value order="7">On-tour air from St. Petersburg to Moscow</value><value order="8">Airport transfers upon arrival and departure</value><value order="9">28 meals (13 breakfasts, 8 lunches &amp; 7 dinners), service charges, gratuities to local guides, admission fees, taxes and porterage</value>
  </tauckValues>  
  <departureDates>
    <date>
    <day>21</day>
    <month>7</month>
    <year>2010</year>
    <singlesPrice>8440</singlesPrice>
    <doublesPrice>6690</doublesPrice>
    <triplesPrice>6443</triplesPrice>
    <quadsPrice>0</quadsPrice>
    
  </date>
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    <month>7</month>
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  <date>
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    <month>8</month>
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  </date>
  <date>
    <day>1</day>
    <month>9</month>
    <year>2010</year>
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    <doublesPrice>6690</doublesPrice>
    <triplesPrice>6443</triplesPrice>
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  </date>
  <date>
    <day>22</day>
    <month>9</month>
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    <singlesPrice>8440</singlesPrice>
    <doublesPrice>6690</doublesPrice>
    <triplesPrice>6443</triplesPrice>
    <quadsPrice>0</quadsPrice>
    
  </date>

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</tour><tour>
  <sourceId>RCN2010</sourceId>
  <title>Christmas Markets Along the Rhine</title>
  <summary>
    <![CDATA[NEW for 2010! Exclusive Tauck extras, special holiday events aboard and ashore, much yuletide cheer... and of course, the Tauck Difference... set the tone for your delightful exploration of Christmas Markets in Germany and France on Tauck&apos;s special December, 2010 Rhine River cruise between Basel and Köln aboard ms Swiss Sapphire!]]>
  </summary>
  <description>
    <![CDATA[NEW for 2010! Tauck&apos;s new river cruise to the Christmas Markets along the Rhine from Basel to Köln aboard ms Swiss Sapphire is the perfect way to capture all the magic of the markets of Germany and France. Along with all the inclusions that are part of every Tauck river cruise – from all included private Tauck shore excursions, gratuities to Tauck staff and ship staff, complimentary soft drinks, wine with dinner aboard ship and snack baskets in the afternoon and much more – we&apos;ll wow you with special holiday touches like an onboard tree-trimming party... a traditional ski haus dispensing glühwein and other treats in the Lido Bar... a visit from a local artisan who will demonstrate traditional skills during an onboard demonstration... a traditional European Christmas dinner with all the fixings... special evenings of onboard holiday-themed entertainment... Tauck’s &quot;shopping sherpa&quot; who helps arrange to ship your Christmas Market purchases back home... visits to markets in cities like Aachen and Colmar that other holiday cruises don’t visit... in Heidelberg, a visit with fraternity members from Germany’s oldest university, plus a fencing demonstration... walking in the footsteps of celebrities at the famed Kurhaus casino in Baden-Baden... exploring La Petite France with a local guide... a lecture on Alsatian storytelling traditions in Strasbourg... a cookie-making demonstration and a visit to the fanciful Siegfrieds Mechanisches Musikkabinett in Rüdesheim... a Christmas lunch overlooking the Rhine in Petersberg and much more!&amp;nbsp;]]>
  </description>
  <link>http://www.tauck.com/tours/europe-tours/central-and-eastern-europe-tours/christmas-market-tours-rcn-2010</link>
  <durationDays>8</durationDays>
  <durationDetails>8 days and 7 nights.</durationDetails>
  <tripType></tripType>
  <brand>Riverboats</brand>
  <subbrand></subbrand>
  <gradeRating>ALL_AGES</gradeRating>
  <comfortRating>COMFORTABLE_MIXED</comfortRating>
  <startingLocation>Basel, Switzerland</startingLocation>
  <prices>
    <price currency="USD">1990</price>
    <priceDetails><![CDATA[All prices are per person in U.S. dollars. ]]></priceDetails>
  </prices>
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  <itinerary>
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  <itineraryDetails>
    <itineraryDay day="1">
  <title>&apos;Tis the season for your Rhine Christmas Market cruise</title>
  <description>Transfers are included from the Basel-Mulhouse International Airport to the ms Swiss Sapphire where embarkation begins at 4:00 PM. Guests enjoying a pre-stay at the Swissôtel Le Plaza Basel will receive a transfer from the hotel to the riverboat. If you arrive earlier than 4:00 PM, take advantage of our complimentary shuttles and go into the city to see the Christkindlmarkt – said to be the largest and most traditional in Switzerland – and perhaps have your first taste of the traditional glühwein that is so much a part of the Christmas market scene. Back on board the riverboat, meet your Tauck Directors at a discovery/welcome briefing prior to dinner.</description>
  <overnight>Aboard ms Swiss Sapphire</overnight>
  <meals>Dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="2">
  <title>A day of Christmas festivity in the Alsace</title>
  <description>Riquewihr - Aside from the electricity that lights up its intimate Christmas Market every December, this Alsatian village hasn’t changed much since its days as a Winzerdorf (wine village) in the 16th century. Fortified by glühwein, you’ll stroll among stalls laden with crafts and local delicacies, set among historic half-timbered houses and shops dressed in yuletide finery... it’s like a fairy tale come to life!&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;
Colmar - A little piece of holiday heaven... that’s Colmar at Christmas time! Le Marché de Noël’s five main venues spread merriment throughout this beautifully preserved medieval city on the Alsatian Wine Route, its 14th- and 15th-century façades draped in greenery and twinkling lights. Tiny faces beam with delight amid the toys, gingerbread, merry-go-round and animated Nativity scene of the Children’s Market in Petite Venise. Crépes, sausages, baguettes, chocolates and other local favorites – and of course Alsatian wine – make the mouth water at Place Jeanne d’Arc. Master glaziers, sculptors, jewelers and other artisans display their work in the Covered Market in the historic Koïfhus (customs house)... and you’ll find everything from candles to roast chestnuts at Place de l’Ancienne Douane and Place des Dominicains, warmed by the stained glass windows of the Gothic Dominican church.

Your day begins with an excursion to the romantic village of Riquewihr, France, set between the Vosges Mountains and the vineyards in the Alsace near the German border, where not much has changed since its early days as a winzerdorf (wine village). This little medieval town still looks much as it did in the 16th century and it’s easy to feel like you’re in the middle of a fairy tale as you explore its intimate Christmas market; while you’re here, you might want to buy a special Christmas ornament to add to the riverboat’s on-board Christmas tree. Have lunch in the village, known for its fine, locally produced Riesling and other Alsatian wines, or return to the riverboat – it’s your choice. With its ancient buildings, half-timbered houses, Renaissance structures and crooked houses on crooked lanes, being in the city center of Colmar is almost like walking through a wonderful living museum; seeing Christmas traditions unfold in such a setting as you browse Colmar&apos;s Christmas market is unforgettable. Back aboard ms Swiss Sapphire, join the Captain for his welcome reception and dinner this evening. After dinner, celebrate with your fellow travelers at our tree-trimming party as you help decorate ms Swiss Sapphire’s Christmas tree!</description>
  <overnight>Aboard ms Swiss Sapphire</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="3">
  <title>Sparkling Strasbourg</title>
  <description>Strasbourg - Steaming mulled wine... gingerbread... Advent wreaths... a towering Christmas tree, dwarfed by soaring Strasbourg Cathedral... nearly every street and building aglow with lights and decorations... bredle, the tiny, traditional holiday cakes of Alsace... the unmistakable sights, sounds, flavors and smells of the Alsatian holidays surround you at Strasbourg’s Marchés de Noël, the oldest and largest in France. A dozen themed markets fan out from the cathedral along the Grand Rue – the original Christkindelsmärik... the Bredle Market... the Kingdom of the Wine Growers... the Children’s Village... the Village of Sharing and others. Artisans show off their wares in stalls that stretch on as far as the eye can see... and the ancient heart of this canal-crossed city is bathed in gold! A lecture on local storytelling traditions and a guided walk through La Petite France round out your unforgettable day in Strasbourg.&amp;nbsp;
Strasbourg would like you think of it as the &quot;Capital of Christmas&quot; and it is, after all, the &quot;Capital of Europe&quot; in a sense – being the home of the European Union. Before a walking tour through this ancient French Alsatian city, whose entire center is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, gain some insights about storytelling traditions with an expert local guide during a lecture aboard the riverboat. The setting of the Christmas market you’ll visit – around Strasbourg’s Gothic Cathedral de Notre-Dame – is breathtaking. After a walking tour of the Christkindlmarkt, you’ll have leisure time to explore on your own – and have lunch in town or return to the riverboat on one of the shuttles that will run between the city and the dock for most of the afternoon. Later, you may think that you’ve stepped back into medieval times on a guided walking tour in La Petite France, with its half-timbered buildings, watchtowers and winding cobblestone streets laced with canals located on the Grande Île. Back aboard the riverboat, join your Tauck directors for a discovery briefing.</description>
  <overnight>Aboard ms Swiss Sapphire</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="4">
  <title>A Black Forest Christmas in Baden-Baden</title>
  <description>Baden-Baden - The Black Forest’s special magic casts its spell over the Christmas Market of this famous spa town, set adjacent to its sumptuous Belle Èpoque casino complex – the Kurhaus – which screen icon Marlene Dietrich called &quot;the most beautiful casino in the world.&quot; Cheered by the strains of local choirs and bands performing holiday music – or perhaps by the baaaas of bleating sheep from the market’s &quot;living Nativity&quot; – wind your way to booth upon booth of carved wooden toys and ornaments, silver jewelry, decorative candles and goodies galore. Join us for a guided visit inside the 250-year-old Kurhaus, and explore more of Baden-Baden’s holiday charms as you wish.&amp;nbsp;
The riverboat docks in Plittersdorf for an excursion to Baden-Baden today. Surrounded by
the hills of the Black Forest, this world-famous spa town is the ideal setting for a
winter fairy tale at Christmastime. The tempting aromas of glühwein and
gingerbread are everywhere during a walking tour through the labyrinth
of stalls in the Weihnachtsmarkt. With its natural springs reputed to
have healing powers, Baden-Baden has long attracted the wealthy elite,
who come to take the waters and play in the magnificent Belle Epoque
casino, the Kurhaus, adjacent to the Christmas market; during a visit to this legendary casino and spa complex, you’ll get a taste of what being
one of &quot;the in-crowd&quot; feels like. Discover more of what makes
Baden-Baden and its Christmas market so special – and indulge in that
gingerbread and glühwein – during a free afternoon. There’s another
discovery briefing before dinner this evening as ms Swiss Sapphire sets off for Heidelberg.</description>
  <overnight>Aboard ms Swiss Sapphire</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="5">
  <title>Heidelberg Holidays</title>
  <description>Heidelberg - With thousands of stars twinkling in the trees... hundreds of booths sprawling across five city squares... and an ice rink glistening in the shadow of Heidelberg Castle... you’ll think you’ve stepped inside a snowglobe at this shining Weihnachtsmarkt! Festooned with figures from the city’s history, the glowing Christmas Pyramid dominates the Marktplatz. On the Universitätsplatz, a carousel turns, and the scent of almonds and glühwein fills the air. You can skate to holiday tunes at the rink on the Karlsplatz... hunt for crafts at the Anatomiegarten... or stroll past the crèche on the Kornmarkt. You’ll also meet fraternity members from Germany’s oldest university and watch a fencing demonstration, take a walking tour of Old Town, and explore Heidelberg Castle.&amp;nbsp;
A full day in historic Heidelberg promises both holiday cheer at its Weihnachtsmarkt and insights about life here in the past and in the present. A visit to historic Heidelberg Castle high above the city reveals the ruins of a mighty medieval palace and a sense of what it might have been like to live there so long ago; the city is very excited about the Art-Advent Calendar at the castle making its debut in 2010. Heidelberg has also been a university town for centuries; you might be familiar with the operetta, The Student Prince, which recounts the life of a prince-in-disguise as a student at the University of Heidelberg long ago. You’ll meet some modern-day fraternity members from the university who will share modern student life with you... and you&apos;ll watch a fencing demonstration. Enjoy a walking tour of Heidelberg’s Christmas markets and the city&apos;s old town square, winding up with lunch at the historic&amp;nbsp; Hotel Zum Ritter St. Georg. Spend some free time before departing this grand old city to catch up with the riverboat in Speyer and have dinner aboard. Later, set out for an evening stroll through Speyer’s Christmas market.</description>
  <overnight>Aboard ms Swiss Sapphire</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="6">
  <title>Music, sweet treats and more in Rüdesheim</title>
  <description>Rüdesheim - Holiday carols, children’s laughter, carousels... the season’s joyful noises reverberate across this little town on the Rhine as you browse the shops and stalls of its Weihnachtsmarkt, winding their way through its quaint cobblestone streets; the largest nativity scene in Europe adorns the market square. Even the Drosselgasse, a narrow lane famed for its wine bars, is all done up in yuletide green and gold. Heart-shaped lebkuchen, local favorites like schweinebraten and jagerschnitzel – and especially Rüdesheim Coffee, laced with locally produced brandy – tempt your taste buds. While in Rüdesheim, travel via train to the unique Siegfrieds Mechanisches Musikkabinett, housed in a castle.&amp;nbsp;
After a leisurely morning spent cruising along the Rhine and enjoying ms Swiss Sapphire’s amenities as you please, there’s more Weihnachtsmarkt fun waiting for you in the romantic town of Rüdesheim in the Rhine Valley. After a stroll through the Christmas market near the pier, board a mini-train for a ride to Siegfrieds Mechanisches Musikkabinett, a museum featuring an impressive collection of mechanical musical instruments, some dating back centuries, housed in the Bromserhof, a 16th-century castle. A cookie-baking demonstration shares secrets of traditional treats like lebkuchen, which are very tasty when accompanied by special Rüdesheim coffee laced with local brandy. After some free time, return to the riverboat for dinner; maybe you’ll want to take a stroll ashore later.</description>
  <overnight>Aboard ms Swiss Sapphire</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="7">
  <title>A Christmas lunch, Aachener Printen and Köln</title>
  <description>Aachen - Smell that cinnamon... oh, and is that coriander? The exact ingredients are a well-kept secret of each local bakery that produces it, but Aacheners have been making Aachener Printen – their own engraved take on traditional lebkuchen – for 600 years! Its seductive scent… mingled with glühwein and other holiday treats… welcomes you to this ancient German city’s Weihnachtsmarkt. Aachen’s incredible Gothic cathedral overlooks a brightly lit holiday wonderland of festive greenery, gingerbread houses and handmade crafts; steam rises from food stalls, releasing the most delicious aromas. Be sure to sample local favorites like potato fritters, spekulatius biscuits, marzipan, and of course printen; although the city’s bakeries ship these goodies all over the world, there’s nothing like enjoying them here… fresh and hot! Your excursion to Aachen’s market follows a traditional Christmas lunch overlooking the Rhine in nearby Petersberg.&amp;nbsp;
Your riverboat docks in Köln (Cologne) in the wee hours of the morning; you’ll have some leisure time after breakfast in this historic city before departing for the Steigenberger Grandhotel Petersberg, which once welcomed royalty and heads of state as Germany’s official guest residence when the government was headquartered in nearby Bonn. Here, you’ll enjoy a traditional Christmas lunch against a backdrop of wonderful Rhine River views.&amp;nbsp; Then continue on to the small, ancient city of Aachen, established by Charlemagne himself as his seat of power in the mid-700s; it&apos;s now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. At the Weihnachtsmarkt in Aachen, follow the seductive smells of cinnamon, coriander and ginger to find the town’s Christmas specialty, Aachener Printen – they taste as good as they look! This evening, join us for the Captain’s farewell reception and dinner back aboard ms Swiss Sapphire in Köln (Cologne) before a special nighttime visit to the Köln Christmas market. Set in front of the magnificent Gothic Kölner Dom (Cologne Cathedral), it’s been nominated by the trade press as one of the most beautiful Christmas markets in Europe. Raise one last cup of glühwein and toast the wonderful time you’ve had discovering Christmastime along the Rhine.</description>
  <overnight>Aboard ms Swiss Sapphire</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="8">
  <title>Homeward bound</title>
  <description>Your Christmas market cruise ends in Köln (Cologne). Fly home anytime. Transfers are included from ms Swiss Sapphire to Cologne / Bonn Airport. Guests enjoying a post-stay at the InterContinental Köln will receive a transfer from the hotel to the airport. Please allow three hours for airport check-in. We wish you a safe and pleasant journey home.</description>
  <overnight></overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast</meals>
</itineraryDay>
  </itineraryDetails>
  <highlights></highlights>
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  <occupancy>1</occupancy>
  <description>Cat 2, Mini-Suite *Emerald</description>
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</cabin>
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  <occupancy>2</occupancy>
  <description>Cat 2, Mini-Suite *Emerald</description>
  <suppliment>200</suppliment>
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</cabin>
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<cabin>
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  <description>Cat 3, Double *Ruby</description>
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</cabin>
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  <occupancy>2</occupancy>
  <description>Cat 4, Mini-Suite *Ruby</description>
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</cabin>
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  <occupancy>1</occupancy>
  <description>Cat 5, Mini-Suite *Diamond</description>
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</cabin>
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  <occupancy>2</occupancy>
  <description>Cat 5, Mini-Suite *Diamond</description>
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  <occupancy>1</occupancy>
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</cabin>
<cabin>
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  <occupancy>2</occupancy>
  <description>Cat 6, Suite *Diamond</description>
  <suppliment>1960</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>3950</totalPrice>
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  </date>

</departureDates>

</tour><tour>
  <sourceId>RCS2010</sourceId>
  <title>Christmas Markets Along the Rhine</title>
  <summary>
    <![CDATA[NEW for 2010! Exclusive Tauck extras, special holiday events aboard and ashore, much yuletide cheer... and of course, the Tauck Difference... set the tone for your delightful exploration of Christmas Markets in Germany and France on Tauck&apos;s special December, 2010 Rhine River cruise between Köln and Basel aboard ms Swiss Sapphire!]]>
  </summary>
  <description>
    <![CDATA[NEW for 2010! Tauck&apos;s new river cruise to the Christmas Markets along the Rhine from Köln to Basel aboard ms Swiss Sapphire is the perfect way to capture all the magic of the markets of Germany and France. Along with all the inclusions that are part of every Tauck river cruise – from all included private Tauck shore excursions, gratuities to Tauck staff and ship staff, complimentary soft drinks, wine with dinner aboard ship and snack baskets in the afternoon and much more – we&apos;ll wow you with special holiday touches like an onboard tree-trimming party... a traditional ski haus dispensing glühwein and other treats in the Lido Bar... a visit from a local artisan who will demonstrate traditional skills during an onboard demonstration... a traditional European Christmas dinner with all the fixings... special evenings of onboard holiday-themed entertainment... Tauck’s &quot;shopping sherpa&quot; who helps arrange to ship your Christmas Market purchases back home... visits to markets in cities like Aachen and Colmar that other holiday cruises don’t visit... in Heidelberg, a visit with fraternity members from Germany’s oldest university, plus a fencing demonstration... walking in the footsteps of celebrities at the famed Kurhaus casino in Baden-Baden... exploring La Petite France with a local guide... a lecture on Alsatian storytelling traditions in Strasbourg... a cookie-making demonstration and a visit to the fanciful Siegfrieds Mechanisches Musikkabinett in Rüdesheim... a Christmas lunch overlooking the Rhine in Petersberg and much more!]]>
  </description>
  <link>http://www.tauck.com/tours/europe-tours/central-and-eastern-europe-tours/christmas-market-tour-rcs-2010</link>
  <durationDays>8</durationDays>
  <durationDetails>8 days and 7 nights.</durationDetails>
  <tripType></tripType>
  <brand>Riverboats</brand>
  <subbrand></subbrand>
  <gradeRating>ALL_AGES</gradeRating>
  <comfortRating>COMFORTABLE_MIXED</comfortRating>
  <startingLocation>Köln, Germany</startingLocation>
  <prices>
    <price currency="USD">1990</price>
    <priceDetails><![CDATA[All prices are per person in U.S. dollars. ]]></priceDetails>
  </prices>
  <images>
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  <itinerary>
    <![CDATA[]]>
  </itinerary>
  <itineraryDetails>
    <itineraryDay day="1">
  <title>It’s Christmastime in Köln (Cologne)</title>
  <description>Transfers are included from the Köln / Bonn Airport to the ms Swiss Sapphire, where embarkation begins at 4:00 PM. Guests enjoying a pre-stay at the InterContinental Köln will receive a transfer from the hotel to the riverboat. If you arrive earlier, take advantage of our complimentary shuttles and go into the city to see the Weihnachtsmarkt at Cologne Cathedral (Kölner Dom), nominated by the trade press as one of the most beautiful Christmas markets in Europe – and perhaps have your first taste of the traditional glühwein that is so much a part of the Christmas market scene. Back on board the riverboat, meet your Tauck Directors at a Discovery/Welcome briefing prior to dinner.</description>
  <overnight>Aboard ms Swiss Sapphire</overnight>
  <meals>Dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="2">
  <title>A seasonal lunch overlooking the Rhine</title>
  <description>Aachen Smell that cinnamon... oh, and is that coriander? The exact ingredients are a well-kept secret of each local bakery that produces it, but Aacheners have been making Aachener Printen – their own engraved take on traditional lebkuchen – for 600 years! Its seductive scent… mingled with glühwein and other holiday treats… welcomes you to this ancient German city’s Weihnachtsmarkt. Aachen’s incredible Gothic cathedral overlooks a brightly lit holiday wonderland of festive greenery, gingerbread houses and handmade crafts; steam rises from food stalls, releasing the most delicious aromas. Be sure to sample local favorites like potato fritters, spekulatius biscuits, marzipan, and of course printen; although the city’s bakeries ship these goodies all over the world, there’s nothing like enjoying them here… fresh and hot! Your excursion to Aachen’s market follows a traditional Christmas lunch overlooking the Rhine in nearby Petersberg.  
After spending the morning as you like in Köln, set out on an excursion to Aachen and its Christmas market. En route, stop for lunch at the Steigenberger Grandhotel Petersberg overlooking the Rhine in Petersberg. Crowned heads and heads of state enjoyed these spectacular views when the hotel was the official residence for dignitaries who were guests of the German government, then headquartered in nearby Bonn; a Christmas lunch here will be a treasured memory of your Christmas market cruise. Continue on to Aachen, which Charlemagne established as his seat of power over a millennium ago; the town is a UNESCO World Heritage Site today. Said to be one of the largest in Germany, Aachen&apos;s Weihnachtsmarkt unfolds in the squares and streets surrounding the Gothic-and-Baroque Aachen Town Hall, built on the foundations of Charlemagne’s palace.</description>
  <overnight>Aboard ms Swiss Sapphire</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="3">
  <title>Romantic Rüdesheim</title>
  <description>Rüdesheim - Holiday carols, children’s laughter, carousels... the season’s joyful noises reverberate across this little town on the Rhine as you browse the shops and stalls of its Weihnachtsmarkt, winding their way through its quaint cobblestone streets; the largest nativity scene in Europe adorns the market square. Even the Drosselgasse, a narrow lane famed for its wine bars, is all done up in yuletide green and gold. Heart-shaped lebkuchen, local favorites like schweinebraten and jagerschnitzel – and especially Rüdesheim Coffee, laced with locally produced brandy – tempt your taste buds. While in Rüdesheim, travel via train to the unique Siegfrieds Mechanisches Musikkabinett, housed in a castle.&amp;nbsp;
Enjoy a morning aboard ms Swiss Sapphire as you cruise along the Rhine to Rüdesheim. Do a bit of exploring at the city&apos;s Weihnachtsmarkt near the pier before boarding a train to Siegfried’s Mechanisches Musikkabinett for an unexpected musical treat; here, housed in a 16th-century castle, you’ll find one of the world&apos;s largest collections of whimsical mechanical musical instruments, some centuries old. It wouldn’t be Christmastime without holiday cookies; a cookie-making demonstration may give you some ideas to take home – and the results you&apos;ll sample are especially good when accompanied by Rüdesheim coffee, infused with local brandy. Spend some free time on your own, then enjoy dinner aboard ms Swiss Sapphire; if you wish, you&apos;ll have time after dinner this evening for some caroling or more time at leisure in town, returning to&amp;nbsp;ms Swiss Sapphire on foot or via mini-train  before the riverboat departs.</description>
  <overnight>Aboard ms Swiss Sapphire</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="4">
  <title>Holiday happenings in Heidelberg</title>
  <description>Heidelberg - With thousands of stars twinkling in the trees... hundreds of booths sprawling across five city squares... and an ice rink glistening in the shadow of Heidelberg Castle... you’ll think you’ve stepped inside a snowglobe at this shining weihnachtsmarkt! Festooned with figures from the city’s history, the glowing Christmas Pyramid dominates the Marktplatz. On the Universitätsplatz, a carousel turns, and the scent of almonds and glühwein fills the air. You can skate to holiday tunes at the rink on the Karlsplatz... hunt for crafts at the Anatomiegarten... or stroll past the crèche on the Kornmarkt. You’ll also meet fraternity members from Germany’s oldest university and watch a fencing demonstration, take a walking tour of Old Town, and explore iconic Heidelberg Castle.&amp;nbsp;
Heidelberg has been a dynamic place since sometime in the 5th century… and a lot happens here especially during the holiday season. Begin your day in this historic city with a guided visit to the ruins of Heidelberg Castle, which has kept watch over the town below for many centuries; this year, Heidelberg is particularly excited about the new Art-Advent Calendar that you’ll see at the castle. If you’re familiar with the operetta, The Student Prince, you know the story of a young prince-in-disguise who attended the University of Heidelberg – the oldest in Germany – long ago. Today, you’ll meet modern fraternity members from the University and see a fencing demonstration before taking the funicular down to the old town square for lunch at the Hotel Zum Ritter St. Georg, set within a striking Renaissance building. Discover the treats and treasures at Heidelberg&apos;s Christmas Market before traveling to Speyer to reboard the riverboat.</description>
  <overnight>Aboard ms Swiss Sapphire</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="5">
  <title>Christmas comes to the Black Forest</title>
  <description>Baden-Baden - The Black Forest’s special magic casts its spell over the Christmas Market of this famous spa town, set adjacent to its sumptuous Belle Èpoque casino complex – the Kurhaus – which screen icon Marlene Dietrich called &quot;the most beautiful casino in the world.&quot; Cheered by the strains of local choirs and bands performing holiday music – or perhaps by the baaaas of bleating sheep from the market’s &quot;living Nativity&quot; – wind your way to booth upon booth of carved wooden toys and ornaments, silver jewelry, decorative candles and goodies galore. Join us for a guided visit inside the 250-year-old Kurhaus, and explore more of Baden-Baden’s holiday charms as you wish.&amp;nbsp;
Christmastime in the Black Forest has a magic all its own, as you’ll see today after docking in Plittersdorf for an excursion to Baden-Baden. This famous Black Forest spa town has welcomed people seeking its healing waters (&quot;baden,&quot; in fact, means &quot;to bathe&quot;) since Roman times... as well as the wealthy elite who have frequented its Belle Èpoque casino, the Kurhaus, for over 250 years. After a walk through Baden-Baden&apos;s delightful Christmas Market, visit the adjacent Kurhaus, which Marlene Dietrich called &quot;the most beautiful casino in the world.&quot; After lunch back aboard the riverboat or on your own in town, the afternoon is yours to enjoy as you please; shuttles will transport you between the riverboat in Plittersdorf and Baden-Baden&apos;s city center. Join your Tauck Directors for a Discovery Briefing before dinner aboard ms Swiss Sapphire this evening.</description>
  <overnight>Aboard ms Swiss Sapphire</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="6">
  <title>Storytelling traditions and more in Strasbourg</title>
  <description>Strasbourg - Steaming mulled wine... gingerbread... Advent wreaths... a towering Christmas tree, dwarfed by soaring Strasbourg Cathedral... nearly every street and building aglow with lights and decorations... bredle, the tiny, traditional holiday cakes of Alsace... the unmistakable sights, sounds, flavors and smells of the Alsatian holidays surround you at Strasbourg’s Marchés de Noël, the oldest and largest in France. A dozen themed markets fan out from the cathedral along the Grand Rue – the original Christkindelsmärik... the Bredle Market... the Kingdom of the Wine Growers... the Children’s Village... the Village of Sharing and others. Artisans show off their wares in stalls that stretch on as far as the eye can see... and the ancient heart of this canal-crossed city is bathed in gold! A lecture on local storytelling traditions and a guided walk through La Petite France round out your unforgettable day in Strasbourg.&amp;nbsp;
A local guide joins you aboard ms Swiss Sapphire in Strasbourg to tell the story of storytelling in France&apos;s Alsace region, before heading out for a walking tour through this ancient city&apos;s Christmas market, the biggest and oldest in all of France. Home to the modern headquarters of the European Union as well as historic La Petite France, Strasbourg&apos;s city center is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site, providing a memorable setting for this holiday market situated around the city&apos;s Gothic Cathedral de Notre-Dame. You’ll have some leisure time before heading back to the riverboat for lunch… or, have lunch in the city on your own. In the late afternoon, you’ll find yourself back in medieval times on a walking tour of La Petite France, with its watchtowers, half-timbered houses and winding cobblestone streets.</description>
  <overnight>Aboard ms Swiss Sapphire</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="7">
  <title>Yuletide in the Alsace</title>
  <description>Riquewihr - Aside from the electricity that lights up its intimate Christmas Market every December, this Alsatian village hasn’t changed much since its days as a Winzerdorf (wine village) in the 16th century. Fortified by glühwein, you’ll stroll among stalls laden with crafts and local delicacies, set among historic half-timbered houses and shops dressed in yuletide finery... it’s like a fairy tale come to life!&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;
Colmar - A little piece of holiday heaven... that’s Colmar at Christmastime! Le Marché de Noël’s five main venues spread merriment throughout this beautifully preserved medieval city on the Alsatian Wine Route, its 14th- and 15th-century façades draped in greenery and twinkling lights. Tiny faces beam with delight amid the toys, gingerbread, merry-go-round and animated Nativity scene of the Children’s Market in Petite Venise. Crépes, sausages, baguettes, chocolates and other local favorites – and of course Alsatian wine – make the mouth water at Place Jeanne d’Arc. Master glaziers, sculptors, jewelers and other artisans display their work in the Covered Market in the historic Koïfhus (customs house)... and you’ll find everything from candles to roast chestnuts at Place de l’Ancienne Douane and Place des Dominicains, warmed by the stained glass windows of the Gothic Dominican church.&amp;nbsp;
Not much has changed in the romantic Alsatian village of Riquewihr, set between the Vosges Mountains and the vineyards, since its days as a winzerdorf (wine village) centuries ago. It’s easy to imagine that you’re in the middle of a fairy tale as you browse through the intimate Christmas market of this little medieval town, all lit up for the season. You might enjoy having lunch here on your own and sampling some of the fine Riesling and other wines produced locally… or return to the riverboat. After lunch, it’s on to les Marchés de Noël, as Christmas markets are called in most cities in France, in Colmar with your local guide. Christmas takes on a special meaning here among the crooked houses on crooked lanes, Renaissance structures and ancient buildings in the city center. Join us this evening for the Captain’s farewell reception and dinner aboard ms Swiss Sapphire. Later, perhaps you’ll head to the Ski Haus in the Lido Bar or the ship&apos;s lounge to share your memories of your Christmas market cruise along the Rhine over a mug of glühwein with the new friends you’ve made, as the riverboat makes its way to Basel, Switzerland.</description>
  <overnight>Aboard ms Swiss Sapphire</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="8">
  <title>Homeward bound</title>
  <description>Your Christmas market cruise ends in Basel, Switzerland. Transfers are provided from the riverboat to the Basel-Mulhouse International Airport; guests enjoying a post-stay at Swissôtel Le Plaza Basel will receive a transfer from the hotel to the airport. Please allow three hours for airport check-in. We wish you a safe and pleasant journey home.</description>
  <overnight></overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast</meals>
</itineraryDay>
  </itineraryDetails>
  <highlights></highlights>
  <tauckValues>
    
  </tauckValues>  
  <departureDates>
    <date>
    <day>5</day>
    <month>12</month>
    <year>2010</year>
    <singlesPrice>2487</singlesPrice>
    <doublesPrice>1990</doublesPrice>
    <triplesPrice>3133</triplesPrice>
    <quadsPrice>0</quadsPrice>
    <cabins>
<cabin>
  <categoryCode>RCS20101</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>1</occupancy>
  <description>Cat 1, Base Double *Emerald</description>
  <suppliment>0</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>2487</totalPrice>
</cabin>
<cabin>
  <categoryCode>RCS20101</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>2</occupancy>
  <description>Cat 1, Base Double *Emerald</description>
  <suppliment>0</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>1990</totalPrice>
</cabin>
<cabin>
  <categoryCode>RCS20102</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>1</occupancy>
  <description>Cat 2, Mini-Suite *Emerald</description>
  <suppliment>250</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>2737</totalPrice>
</cabin>
<cabin>
  <categoryCode>RCS20102</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>2</occupancy>
  <description>Cat 2, Mini-Suite *Emerald</description>
  <suppliment>200</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>2190</totalPrice>
</cabin>
<cabin>
  <categoryCode>RCS20103</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>1</occupancy>
  <description>Cat 3, Double *Ruby</description>
  <suppliment>850</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>3337</totalPrice>
</cabin>
<cabin>
  <categoryCode>RCS20103</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>2</occupancy>
  <description>Cat 3, Double *Ruby</description>
  <suppliment>680</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>2670</totalPrice>
</cabin>
<cabin>
  <categoryCode>RCS20104</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>1</occupancy>
  <description>Cat 4, Mini-Suite *Ruby</description>
  <suppliment>1878</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>4365</totalPrice>
</cabin>
<cabin>
  <categoryCode>RCS20104</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>2</occupancy>
  <description>Cat 4, Mini-Suite *Ruby</description>
  <suppliment>920</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>2910</totalPrice>
</cabin>
<cabin>
  <categoryCode>RCS20105</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>1</occupancy>
  <description>Cat 5, Mini-Suite *Diamond</description>
  <suppliment>3276</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>5763</totalPrice>
</cabin>
<cabin>
  <categoryCode>RCS20105</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>2</occupancy>
  <description>Cat 5, Mini-Suite *Diamond</description>
  <suppliment>1400</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>3390</totalPrice>
</cabin>
<cabin>
  <categoryCode>RCS20106</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>1</occupancy>
  <description>Cat 6, Suite *Diamond</description>
  <suppliment>4228</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>6715</totalPrice>
</cabin>
<cabin>
  <categoryCode>RCS20106</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>2</occupancy>
  <description>Cat 6, Suite *Diamond</description>
  <suppliment>1960</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>3950</totalPrice>
</cabin></cabins>
  </date>

</departureDates>

</tour><tour>
  <sourceId>RDE2010</sourceId>
  <title>The Blue Danube</title>
  <summary>
    <![CDATA[Wind your way past medieval landscapes on a Danube River cruise aboard ms Swiss Emerald, ms Swiss Sapphire or ms Swiss Jewel to discover castles, cathedrals, frescoes and Habsburg palaces in five European countries. Includes land stays featuring two nights each in Prague and Budapest at centrally located 5-star hotels.
New for 2010! Two special departures – 
Musical Magic Along the Blue Danube
]]>
  </summary>
  <description>
    <![CDATA[Glide past fairy-tale castles and medieval villages aboard Tauck&apos;s ms Swiss Emerald, ms Swiss Sapphire or ms Swiss Jewel
on this popular Danube River cruise. Explore Prague,
Vienna, Salzburg, Bratislava and Budapest, plus the castle-studded Wachau Valley – taking in views of the Czech
Republic, Germany, Austria, Slovakia, and Hungary. Enjoy a private Imperial
evening with dinner and music in Vienna... a wine tasting in Dürnstein...
a day in Mozart&apos;s Salzburg... a private tour of Baroque monastery libraries in Prague... and evenings of cultural entertainment aboard your riverboat. In Vienna, see the Hofburg&apos;s silver treasures or tour opulent Schönbrunn Palace. Admire frescoes, stained glass windows, and
stunning architecture as you spend two nights each in Budapest and
Prague in 5-star hotels, checking out remarkable bridges, cathedrals,
museums, and grand Habsburg palaces... it&apos;s truly a cruise to remember!

]]>
  </description>
  <link>http://www.tauck.com/tours/europe-tours/central-and-eastern-europe-tours/danube-river-cruise-rde-2010</link>
  <durationDays>12</durationDays>
  <durationDetails>12 days and 11 nights.</durationDetails>
  <tripType>ESCORTED_CRUISE</tripType>
  <brand>Riverboats</brand>
  <subbrand>Riverboat</subbrand>
  <gradeRating>ALL_AGES</gradeRating>
  <comfortRating>COMFORTABLE_MIXED</comfortRating>
  <startingLocation>Prague, Czech Republic</startingLocation>
  <prices>
    <price currency="USD">3790</price>
    <priceDetails><![CDATA[All prices are per person in U.S. dollars. ]]></priceDetails>
  </prices>
  <images>
    <image isMain="true">http://tools.tauck.com/Files/ItineraryImages/ListImages/img_RDE2010_list.jpg</image>
    <image>http://tools.tauck.com/Files/ItineraryImages/altImages/RDE2010_alt1.jpg</image>
    <image>http://tools.tauck.com/Files/ItineraryImages/altImages/RDE2010_alt2.jpg</image>
    <image>http://tools.tauck.com/Files/ItineraryImages/altImages/RDE2010_alt3.jpg</image>
    <image isMap="true">http://tools.tauck.com/Files/ItineraryImages/MapImages/map_RDE2010.jpg</image>
  </images>
  <itinerary>
    <![CDATA[Eastbound Itinerary

• = cruise day

1. Arrive Prague
Tour begins: 6:00 PM, Prague Marriott Hotel. A transfer is included from Prague’s Ruzyne Airport to the Prague Marriott Hotel, ranked among the Top 100 Best Luxury Hotels of the World, for a memorable two-night stay in the historic “city of a hundred spires.” Tauck brings you inside Prague’s soaring cathedrals and grand palaces during your visit, beginning with a royal welcome reception, tour and dinner at the 16th-century Lobkowicz Palace at Prague Castle, where a classical quartet and privileged views of the city’s cultural treasures enchant inside and out. Meals D

2. Discover Past &amp; Present Prague
Exquisite examples of European architecture await on a guided excursion that takes you to the Hradcany (Castle) district and the magnificent Gothic Cathedral of St. Vitus. An exclusive private tour of the grand libraries of Strahov Monastery is sure to be a highlight of your day. Spend time at leisure exploring the nooks and crannies off the courtyards and squares of Prague’s winding cobblestone streets, or join us on a walking tour through ethereal Old Town; see the famous Astronomical Clock, Tyn Church, iconic Charles Bridge and Wenceslas Square. Lantern-lit streets set the mood for dinner on your own tonight, tempting with cafés and restaurants that serve up the region’s best schnitzels, dumplings, strudels, goulashes and beer. Meals B

• 3. Regensburg /  Embark Riverboat
Drive to the quintessential Bavarian town of Regensburg, Germany, nestled on the banks of the River Danube. Walking here is a delight and is the only way to view its historic sights up-close. A local guide will lead the way as you see the town’s 12th-century Steinerne Brücke (Germany’s oldest surviving stone bridge), the 15th-century Altes Rathaus (Town Hall), towering Dom St. Peter, and the remains of the Roman wall. Enjoy lunch on your own – this medieval town is famous for its Bavarian sausage – before embarking ms Swiss Emerald, ms Swiss Sapphire or ms Swiss Jewel for the start of your 7-night cruise. Meals BD

• 4. Picturesque Passau
One of our guests happily remarked that this riverboat cruise is like taking a magic carpet ride through a parade of picturesque places, getting on and off in towns that beg to be explored. An early arrival in Passau this morning lets you do just that when we disembark for a walking tour with a local guide whose love for his hometown makes your visit even more special. Pedestrian walkways take you through tunnels and archways, Baroque houses and ancient cobblestone streets in this hilly town. See the Altes Rathaus and Old Town before cruising to Linz, Austria. Meals BLD

• 5. Salzburg and Linz
Your boat stays docked in Linz today, giving you the opportunity to visit the town as you wish or join us for a full-day excursion to Salzburg on the Salzach River, the celebrated hometown of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. A parade of beautiful Baroque architecture, painted wrought-iron signage, ornate church towers and grand palaces paves the way for your visits to Mozart’s birthplace and lovely Mirabell Gardens. Rejoin the ship for dinner and a wonderful classical music performance. Meals BLD

• 6. Wachau Valley Cruise / Dürnstein
On-board commentary enriches this morning’s leisurely cruise past lush vineyards, fairy-tale castles and ancient monasteries in the Wachau Valley, declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its well-preserved medieval landscapes – it is the perfect scenic appetizer for your stop in the charming little village of Dürnstein in Austria’s wine country. Take a closer look at its 16th-century Baroque houses and 13th-century Romanesque church as you stroll down its one main street or take an invigorating climb up the steps to the ruins of hilltop Kuenringerburg Castle for great views. A wine tasting back in town at an authentic tavern celebrates local cultural traditions and new friendships. Meals BLD

• 7. The Imperial City of Vienna
Wake up in Vienna, inspiring romantic visions of “Old Europe.” A choice of sightseeing today features a tour of the Habsburgs’ Schönbrunn Palace, resplendent with history, or the Imperial Silver Room at the Hofburg, Austria’s official presidential residence. Nothing quite compares to the royal treatment – and pageantry – you will experience tonight at our private Imperial Evening in a traditional Viennese palace; from a spectacle of beautiful ball gowns and elegant finery to a musical performance alive with the spirit of Mozart, you’ll feel like you could dance all night. Meals BLD

• 8. Vienna / Cruise to Slovakia
Spend time this morning as you wish discovering the Vienna you have dreamed of in your mind’s eye. Join us back on the ship for lunch and an afternoon cruise to neighboring Slovakia. Dinner tonight introduces you to a glimpse of daily life in Slovakia with a taste of regional cuisine and an on-board performance by a talented troupe of Slovakian dancers who welcome you to Bratislava in authentic dress. Meals BLD

• 9. Bratislava / Danube Cruise
Our local expert will share insider anecdotes about Bratislava before you embark on a walking tour of this vehicle-free, cobblestoned city. See 17 centuries of history eloquently chronicled in its 13th-century Old Town Hall, Baroque Habsburg-era palaces, the Opera House, Slovak Philharmonic Hall, and St. Martin’s Cathedral, site of the coronation of many Hungarian kings and queens, and sample some of Slovakia’s delectable almond pastry at a local café. Back on board ship, get ready to celebrate tomorrow’s arrival in Budapest – and the end of your Danube riverboat cruise – with our gala Captain’s farewell reception and dinner. Meals BLD

10. Disembark Budapest / Explore Buda
Disembark this morning in Budapest, Hungary’s capital, divided by the mighty Danube River. A guided walking tour of the city’s Buda section includes Castle Hill, Fishermen’s Bastion, and Matthias Church (may be closed on some days). Dine at a choice of restaurants tonight. Meals BLD

11. Fascinating Pest
Your tour of Pest today includes patriotic Heroes’ Square, Váci Utca, the Parliament building, tree-lined Andrassy Avenue, and a special visit to Hungary’s State Opera House. Spend the remainder of the day at your leisure. The city abounds with architectural sights and fine dining. Meals B

12. Journey Home
Tour ends: Budapest, Hungary. A transfer is included from the InterContinental Budapest to Ferihegy Airport; allow a minimum of 2½  hours for flight check-in. Meals B

]]>
  </itinerary>
  <itineraryDetails>
    <itineraryDay day="1">
  <title>Arrive Prague</title>
  <description>Tour begins: 6:00 PM, Prague Marriott Hotel.  A transfer is included from Prague&apos;s Ruzyne Airport to the Prague Marriott Hotel, ranked among the Top 100 Best Luxury Hotels of the World, for a memorable two&amp;#45;night stay in the historic “city of a hundred spires.” Tauck brings you inside Prague&apos;s soaring cathedrals and grand palaces during your visit, beginning with a royal welcome reception, tour and dinner at the 16th&amp;#45;century Lobkowicz Palace at Prague Castle, where a classical quartet and privileged views of the city&apos;s cultural treasures enchant inside and out.  Meals D</description>
  <overnight>Prague Marriott Hotel, Prague, Czech Republic</overnight>
  <meals>Dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="2">
  <title>Discover Past &amp; Present Prague</title>
  <description>Exquisite examples of European architecture await on a guided excursion that takes you to the Hradcany (Castle) district and the magnificent Gothic Cathedral of St.  Vitus.  An exclusive private tour of the grand libraries of Strahov Monastery is sure to be a highlight of your day.  Spend time at leisure exploring the nooks and crannies off the courtyards and squares of Prague&apos;s winding cobblestone streets, or join us on a walking tour through ethereal Old Town; see the famous Astronomical Clock, Tyn Church, iconic Charles Bridge and Wenceslas Square.  Lantern&amp;#45;lit streets set the mood for dinner on your own tonight, tempting with caf&amp;#233;s and restaurants that serve up the region&apos;s best schnitzels, dumplings, strudels, goulashes and beer.  Meals B</description>
  <overnight>Prague Marriott Hotel, Prague, Czech Republic</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="3">
  <title>Regensburg / Embark Riverboat</title>
  <description>Drive to the quintessential Bavarian town of Regensburg, Germany, nestled on the banks of the River Danube.  Walking here is a delight and is the only way to view its historic sights up&amp;#45;close.  A local guide will lead the way as you see the town&apos;s 12th&amp;#45;century Steinerne Br&amp;#252;cke (Germany&apos;s oldest surviving stone bridge), the 15th&amp;#45;century Altes Rathaus (Town Hall), towering Dom St.  Peter, and the remains of the Roman wall.  Enjoy lunch on your own &amp;#45; this medieval town is famous for its Bavarian sausage &amp;#45; before embarking ms Swiss Emerald, ms Swiss Sapphire or ms Swiss Jewel for the start of your 7&amp;#45;night cruise.  Meals BD</description>
  <overnight>Cruising aboard the Riverboat </overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="4">
  <title>Picturesque Passau</title>
  <description>One of our guests happily remarked that this riverboat cruise is like taking a magic carpet ride through a parade of picturesque places, getting on and off in towns that beg to be explored.  An early arrival in Passau this morning lets you do just that when we disembark for a walking tour with a local guide whose love for his hometown makes your visit even more special.  Pedestrian walkways take you through tunnels and archways, Baroque houses and ancient cobblestone streets in this hilly town.  See the Altes Rathaus and Old Town before cruising to Linz, Austria.  Meals BLD</description>
  <overnight>Cruising aboard the Riverboat </overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="5">
  <title>Salzburg and Linz</title>
  <description>Your boat stays docked in Linz today, giving you the opportunity to visit the town as you wish or join us for a full&amp;#45;day excursion to Salzburg on the Salzach River, the celebrated hometown of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.  A parade of beautiful Baroque architecture, painted wrought&amp;#45;iron signage, ornate church towers and grand palaces paves the way for your visits to Mozart&apos;s birthplace and lovely Mirabell Gardens.  Rejoin the ship for dinner and a wonderful classical music performance.  Meals BLD</description>
  <overnight>Cruising aboard the Riverboat </overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="6">
  <title>Wachau Valley Cruise / D&amp;#252;rnstein</title>
  <description>On&amp;#45;board commentary enriches this morning&apos;s leisurely cruise past lush vineyards, fairy&amp;#45;tale castles and ancient monasteries in the Wachau Valley, declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its well&amp;#45;preserved medieval landscapes &amp;#45; it is the perfect scenic appetizer for your stop in the charming little village of D&amp;#252;rnstein in Austria&apos;s wine country.  Take a closer look at its 16th&amp;#45;century Baroque houses and 13th&amp;#45;century Romanesque church as you stroll down its one main street or take an invigorating climb up the steps to the ruins of hilltop Kuenringerburg Castle for great views.  A wine tasting back in town at an authentic tavern celebrates local cultural traditions and new friendships.  Meals BLD</description>
  <overnight>Cruising aboard the Riverboat </overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="7">
  <title>The Imperial City of Vienna</title>
  <description>Wake up in Vienna, inspiring romantic visions of “Old Europe.” A choice of sightseeing today features a tour of the Habsburgs&apos; Sch&amp;#246;nbrunn Palace, resplendent with history, or the Imperial Silver Room at the Hofburg, Austria&apos;s official presidential residence.  Nothing quite compares to the royal treatment &amp;#45; and pageantry &amp;#45; you will experience tonight at our private Imperial Evening in a traditional Viennese palace; from a spectacle of beautiful ball gowns and elegant finery to a musical performance alive with the spirit of Mozart, you&apos;ll feel like you could dance all night.  Meals BLD</description>
  <overnight>Cruising aboard the Riverboat </overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="8">
  <title>Vienna / Cruise to Slovakia</title>
  <description>Spend time this morning as you wish discovering the Vienna you have dreamed of in your mind&apos;s eye.  Join us back on the ship for lunch and an afternoon cruise to neighboring Slovakia.  Dinner tonight introduces you to a glimpse of daily life in Slovakia with a taste of regional cuisine and an on&amp;#45;board performance by a talented troupe of Slovakian dancers who welcome you to Bratislava in authentic dress.  Meals BLD</description>
  <overnight>Cruising aboard the Riverboat </overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="9">
  <title>Bratislava / Danube Cruise</title>
  <description>Our local expert will share insider anecdotes about Bratislava before you embark on a walking tour of this vehicle&amp;#45;free, cobblestoned city.  See 17 centuries of history eloquently chronicled in its 13th&amp;#45;century Old Town Hall, Baroque Habsburg&amp;#45;era palaces, the Opera House, Slovak Philharmonic Hall, and St.  Martin&apos;s Cathedral, site of the coronation of many Hungarian kings and queens, and sample some of Slovakia&apos;s delectable almond pastry at a local caf&amp;#233;.  Back on board ship, get ready to celebrate tomorrow&apos;s arrival in Budapest &amp;#45; and the end of your Danube riverboat cruise &amp;#45; with our gala Captain&apos;s farewell reception and dinner.  Meals BLD</description>
  <overnight>Cruising aboard the Riverboat </overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="10">
  <title>Disembark Budapest / Explore Buda</title>
  <description>Disembark this morning in Budapest, Hungary&apos;s capital, divided by the mighty Danube River.  A guided walking tour of the city&apos;s Buda section includes Castle Hill, Fishermen&apos;s Bastion, and Matthias Church (may be closed on some days).  Dine at a choice of restaurants tonight.  Meals BLD</description>
  <overnight>InterContinental Budapest, Hungary</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="11">
  <title>Fascinating Pest</title>
  <description>Your tour of Pest today includes patriotic Heroes&apos; Square, V&amp;#225;ci Utca, the Parliament building, tree&amp;#45;lined Andrassy Avenue, and a special visit to Hungary&apos;s State Opera House.  Spend the remainder of the day at your leisure.  The city abounds with architectural sights and fine dining.  Meals B</description>
  <overnight>InterContinental Budapest, Hungary</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="12">
  <title>Journey Home</title>
  <description>Tour ends: Budapest, Hungary. A transfer is included from the InterContinental Budapest to Ferihegy Airport; allow a minimum of 2½&amp;nbsp; hours for flight check-in.</description>
  <overnight></overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast</meals>
</itineraryDay>
  </itineraryDetails>
  <highlights>
		

Prague 

~ Regensburg ~ Passau ~ Salzburg ~ Dürnstein ~ Vienna ~ Bratislava ~ Budapest 


</highlights>
  <tauckValues>
    <value order="1">Gratuities to ship staff, drivers, Tauck Directors and Tauck Cruise Director</value><value order="2">All private Tauck shore excursions  $745 Value!</value><value order="3">Two nights each in Prague and Budapest at five-star hotels, centrally located in the heart of the cities</value><value order="4">Tauck Exclusive  Private Imperial Evening at a traditional palace in Vienna featuring dinner and Viennese performers</value><value order="5">Tauck Exclusive  A private tour of the beautiful Baroque libraries of Strahov Monastery in Prague</value><value order="6">Choice of a visit to the Hofburg&apos;s Imperial Silver Room or a guided tour of Schonbrunn Palace</value><value order="7">A day in Mozart&apos;s hometown of Salzburg, Austria, including a visit to Mirabell Gardens</value><value order="8">Evenings of traditional Slovakian entertainment and classical music aboard the riverboat</value><value order="9">11 breakfasts, 7 lunches and 9 dinners. Select meals in local restaurants, and wine with all dinners on the riverboat</value><value order="10">Service charges, taxes, porterage, airport transfers and applicable fuel surcharges</value>
  </tauckValues>  
  
</tour><tour>
  <sourceId>RDW2010</sourceId>
  <title>The Blue Danube</title>
  <summary>
    <![CDATA[Wind your way past medieval landscapes aboard ms Swiss Emerald, ms Swiss Sapphire, or ms Swiss Jewel to discover castles, cathedrals, frescoes and Habsburg palaces in five European countries on this most extraordinary of Danube River cruises. Includes land stays featuring two nights each in Prague and Budapest at centrally located 5-star hotels.
New for 2010! Two special departures – 
Musical Magic Along the Blue Danube
]]>
  </summary>
  <description>
    <![CDATA[
		Glide past fairy-tale castles and medieval villages aboard Tauck&apos;s ms Swiss Emerald, ms Swiss Sapphire or ms Swiss Jewel
on one of Tauck&apos;s popular Danube River cruises. Take in views of the
Czech Republic, Germany, Austria, Slovakia, and Hungary. Enjoy an
Imperial evening with dinner and music in Vienna, a wine tasting in
Dürnstein, and cultural entertainment aboard your riverboat. Explore
Budapest, Vienna, Salzburg, and Prague, plus the castle-studded Wachau
Valley, and Schönbrunn Palace. Admire frescoes, stained glass windows,
and stunning architecture as you spend two nights each in Budapest and
Prague in 5-star hotels, checking out remarkable bridges, cathedrals,
museums, and grand Habsburg palaces.

]]>
  </description>
  <link>http://www.tauck.com/tours/europe-tours/central-and-eastern-europe-tours/danube-river-cruises-rdw-2010</link>
  <durationDays>12</durationDays>
  <durationDetails>12 days and 11 nights.</durationDetails>
  <tripType>ESCORTED_CRUISE</tripType>
  <brand>Riverboats</brand>
  <subbrand>Riverboat</subbrand>
  <gradeRating>ALL_AGES</gradeRating>
  <comfortRating>COMFORTABLE_MIXED</comfortRating>
  <startingLocation>Budapest, Hungary</startingLocation>
  <prices>
    <price currency="USD">3790</price>
    <priceDetails><![CDATA[All prices are per person in U.S. dollars. ]]></priceDetails>
  </prices>
  <images>
    <image isMain="true">http://tools.tauck.com/Files/ItineraryImages/ListImages/img_RDW2010_list.jpg</image>
    <image>http://tools.tauck.com/Files/ItineraryImages/altImages/RDW2010_alt1.jpg</image>
    <image>http://tools.tauck.com/Files/ItineraryImages/altImages/RDW2010_alt2.jpg</image>
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    <image isMap="true">http://tools.tauck.com/Files/ItineraryImages/MapImages/map_RDW2010.jpg</image>
  </images>
  <itinerary>
    <![CDATA[Westbound Itinerary
• = cruise day

1. Arrive Budapest
Tour begins: 6:00 PM, InterContinental Budapest. A transfer is included from Budapest’s Ferihegy Airport to the InterContinental Budapest in the heart of Pest on the Danube’s eastern bank, across the river from the Royal Palace. Please join us for a welcome reception and dinner tonight as you meet your fellow travelers. Meals D

2. Fascinating Pest
View the impressive architecture of Hungary’s capital – divided by the Danube River into two distinct sections, Buda and Pest – on a tour of Pest. See patriotic Heroes’ Square, the fashionable shopping street of Váci Utca, the Parliament building, and tree-lined Andrassy Avenue, and experience a very special visit to the State Opera House. Meals B

• 3. Explore Buda / Embark Riverboat
After a morning at leisure, a guided walking tour of Buda takes you up to Castle Hill, overlooking the Danube. View the iconic Fishermen’s Bastion, and visit the late-Gothic-style Matthias Church (it may be closed on some days due to services). Embark your riverboat this afternoon for the start of your cruise and a memorable journey along the River Danube. Meet the ship’s Captain at tonight’s welcome reception and dinner. Meals BLD

• 4. Danube Cruise / Bratislava 
Cruise the Danube to Bratislava, capital city of modern Slovakia and a long-ago capital of Hungary. Be sure to bring your passport for a guided walking tour of this Baroque-inspired gem. Walk back through centuries of history on a visit to the 13th-century Old Town Hall, past Habsburg-era palaces, the Opera House, Slovak Philharmonic Hall, and St. Martin’s Cathedral. Treat your taste buds to some regional fare in a local coffeehouse before returning to the ship. Colorful Slovakian entertainment is on the docket for this evening when a talented troupe of dancers and musicians performs aboard ship. Meals BLD

• 5. The Imperial City of Vienna
Dock in legendary Vienna, inspiring romantic visions of “Old Europe.” Sightseeing includes the Ringstrasse, the Opera House and Parliament, and your choice of a visit to Schönbrunn Palace or the Imperial Silver Room at the Hofburg. Prepare to be pampered with royal treatment tonight at a private Imperial Evening in a traditional palace, where a grand gala dinner provides an incomparable setting for tonight’s Viennese performers. Meals BLD

• 6. Vienna / Cruise to Dürnstein
For centuries, Vienna was the capital of the Habsburgs’ Austro-Hungarian Empire, and its exalted position among European cities survives to this day. The morning is yours to discover some of the city’s opulent palaces, theatres and other cultural institutions – including over a hundred museums – on your own before returning to the riverboat to resume your Danube River trip. Cruise this afternoon along picturesque landscapes en route to Dürnstein in Austria’s wine country for a late night arrival. High on a hilltop above the town lie the ruins of Kuenringerburg Castle, a place of history and legend; England’s King Richard the Lionhearted was held for ransom here during the Crusades. Meals BLD

• 7. Dürnstein / Wachau Valley Cruise
Join a local guide for a walking tour of Dürnstein’s cobblestone streets that reveals 16th-century Baroque houses and a 13th-century Romanesque church. Explore on your own, or walk up to the castle ruins for lovely vistas of Dürnstein and the Danube, prior to a delightful wine tasting at a local Wachau region winery. Your riverboat journey continues past lush vineyards, ancient castles and monasteries in the Wachau Valley, declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its well-preserved medieval landscapes and towns, including Melk. Local Austrian entertainers come aboard ship this evening to share the musical traditions of their country. Meals BLD

• 8. Salzburg and Linz
You have a choice today; enjoy the town of Linz, Austria, as you wish, or join us for a full-day excursion to enchanting Salzburg, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s hometown on the Salzach River. A pageant of beautiful Baroque architecture awaits on a guided walking tour through narrow lanes and old squares; climb up narrow staircases for a glimpse inside Mozart’s birthplace and visit lovely Mirabell Gardens, adorned with Baroque statues and fountains, before rejoining the ship for dinner. Meals BLD

• 9. Passau / Cruising the Danube
Arrive in Passau after breakfast for a guided walking tour through the tunnels, archways, churches, four-story Baroque houses and cobblestone streets of this Bavarian town on the Danube and Inn Rivers. See the Old Town and Altes Rathaus (town hall) before returning to your riverboat for lunch. An idyllic afternoon lies before you as you cruise through pastoral landscapes to Regensburg. Join us tonight for our farewell reception and dinner. Meals BLD

10. Regensburg / Prague
Disembark your riverboat in Regensburg, whose roots stretch back to its humble beginnings as a campsite for the Roman legions. A guided walking tour of Old Town Regensburg chronicles the town’s rich heritage; see 12th-century Steinerne Brücke (Germany’s oldest surviving stone bridge), towering Dom St. Peter – Bavaria’s most impressive Gothic wonder – and the remains of the Roman wall. Some 1,400 period buildings stand as enduring testimony to the town’s medieval history. Enjoy lunch on your own before departing for Prague. Meals BD

11. Prague, Past and Present
Discover Prague, capital of the modern Czech Republic, starting in the Hradcany (Castle) district, where 1,000-year-old Prague Castle is surrounded by a complex of palaces, gardens, museums and monasteries. Visit the Gothic Cathedral of St. Vitus, and enjoy a Tauck Exclusive – a private guided tour of the beautiful 18th-century Baroque libraries of Strahov Monastery. Spend the afternoon exploring on your own or come along on a walking tour of ethereal Old Town, home to the famous Astronomical Clock, Charles Bridge and Wenceslas Square. Meals B

12. Journey Home
Tour ends: Prague, Czech Republic. A transfer is included from the Prague Marriott Hotel to Prague’s Ruzyne Airport; allow a minimum of 2½ hours for flight check-in. For additional hotel nights in Budapest or Prague, inquire at time of booking. Meals B

]]>
  </itinerary>
  <itineraryDetails>
    <itineraryDay day="1">
  <title>Arrive Budapest</title>
  <description>Tour begins: 6:00 PM, InterContinental Budapest.  A transfer is included from Budapest&apos;s Ferihegy Airport to the InterContinental Budapest in the heart of Pest on the Danube&apos;s eastern bank, across the river from the Royal Palace.  Please join us for a welcome reception and dinner tonight as you meet your fellow travelers.  Meals D</description>
  <overnight>InterContinental Budapest, Hungary</overnight>
  <meals>Dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="2">
  <title>Fascinating Pest</title>
  <description>View the impressive architecture of Hungary&apos;s capital &amp;#45; divided by the Danube River into two distinct sections, Buda and Pest &amp;#45; on a tour of Pest.  See patriotic Heroes&apos; Square, the fashionable shopping street of V&amp;#225;ci Utca, the Parliament building, and tree&amp;#45;lined Andrassy Avenue, and experience a very special visit to the State Opera House.  Meals B</description>
  <overnight>InterContinental Budapest, Hungary</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="3">
  <title>Explore Buda / Embark Riverboat</title>
  <description>After a morning at leisure, a guided walking tour of Buda takes you up to Castle Hill, overlooking the Danube.  View the iconic Fishermen&apos;s Bastion, and visit the late&amp;#45;Gothic&amp;#45;style Matthias Church (it may be closed on some days due to services).  Embark your riverboat this afternoon for the start of your cruise and a memorable journey along the River Danube.  Meet the ship&apos;s Captain at tonight&apos;s welcome reception and dinner.  Meals BLD</description>
  <overnight>Cruising aboard the Riverboat</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="4">
  <title>Danube Cruise / Bratislava </title>
  <description>Cruise the Danube to Bratislava, capital city of modern Slovakia and a long&amp;#45;ago capital of Hungary.  Be sure to bring your passport for a guided walking tour of this Baroque&amp;#45;inspired gem.  Walk back through centuries of history on a visit to the 13th&amp;#45;century Old Town Hall, past Habsburg&amp;#45;era palaces, the Opera House, Slovak Philharmonic Hall, and St.  Martin&apos;s Cathedral.  Treat your taste buds to some regional fare in a local coffeehouse before returning to the ship.  Colorful Slovakian entertainment is on the docket for this evening when a talented troupe of dancers and musicians performs aboard ship.  Meals BLD</description>
  <overnight>Cruising aboard the Riverboat</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="5">
  <title>The Imperial City of Vienna</title>
  <description>Dock in legendary Vienna, inspiring romantic visions of “Old Europe.” Sightseeing includes the Ringstrasse, the Opera House and Parliament, and your choice of a visit to Sch&amp;#246;nbrunn Palace or the Imperial Silver Room at the Hofburg.  Prepare to be pampered with royal treatment tonight at a private Imperial Evening in a traditional palace, where a grand gala dinner provides an incomparable setting for tonight&apos;s Viennese performers.  Meals BLD</description>
  <overnight>Cruising aboard the Riverboat</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="6">
  <title>Vienna / Cruise to D&amp;#252;rnstein</title>
  <description>For centuries, Vienna was the capital of the Habsburgs&apos; Austro&amp;#45;Hungarian Empire, and its exalted position among European cities survives to this day.  The morning is yours to discover some of the city&apos;s opulent palaces, theatres and other cultural institutions &amp;#45; including over a hundred museums &amp;#45; on your own before returning to the riverboat to resume your Danube River trip.  Cruise this afternoon along picturesque landscapes en route to D&amp;#252;rnstein in Austria&apos;s wine country for a late night arrival.  High on a hilltop above the town lie the ruins of Kuenringerburg Castle, a place of history and legend; England&apos;s King Richard the Lionhearted was held for ransom here during the Crusades.  Meals BLD</description>
  <overnight>Cruising aboard the Riverboat</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="7">
  <title>D&amp;#252;rnstein / Wachau Valley Cruise</title>
  <description>Join a local guide for a walking tour of D&amp;#252;rnstein&apos;s cobblestone streets that reveals 16th&amp;#45;century Baroque houses and a 13th&amp;#45;century Romanesque church.  Explore on your own, or walk up to the castle ruins for lovely vistas of D&amp;#252;rnstein and the Danube, prior to a delightful wine tasting at a local Wachau region winery.  Your riverboat journey continues past lush vineyards, ancient castles and monasteries in the Wachau Valley, declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its well&amp;#45;preserved medieval landscapes and towns, including Melk.  Local Austrian entertainers come aboard ship this evening to share the musical traditions of their country.  Meals BLD</description>
  <overnight>Cruising aboard the Riverboat</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="8">
  <title>Salzburg and Linz</title>
  <description>You have a choice today; enjoy the town of Linz, Austria, as you wish, or join us for a full&amp;#45;day excursion to enchanting Salzburg, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart&apos;s hometown on the Salzach River.  A pageant of beautiful Baroque architecture awaits on a guided walking tour through narrow lanes and old squares; climb up narrow staircases for a glimpse inside Mozart&apos;s birthplace and visit lovely Mirabell Gardens, adorned with Baroque statues and fountains, before rejoining the ship for dinner.  Meals BLD</description>
  <overnight>Cruising aboard the Riverboat</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="9">
  <title>Passau / Cruising the Danube</title>
  <description>Arrive in Passau after breakfast for a guided walking tour through the tunnels, archways, churches, four&amp;#45;story Baroque houses and cobblestone streets of this Bavarian town on the Danube and Inn Rivers.  See the Old Town and Altes Rathaus (town hall) before returning to your riverboat for lunch.  An idyllic afternoon lies before you as you cruise through pastoral landscapes to Regensburg.  Join us tonight for our farewell reception and dinner.  Meals BLD</description>
  <overnight>Cruising aboard the Riverboat</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="10">
  <title>Regensburg / Prague</title>
  <description>Disembark your riverboat in Regensburg, whose roots stretch back to its humble beginnings as a campsite for the Roman legions.  A guided walking tour of Old Town Regensburg chronicles the town&apos;s rich heritage; see 12th&amp;#45;century Steinerne Br&amp;#252;cke (Germany&apos;s oldest surviving stone bridge), towering Dom St.  Peter &amp;#45; Bavaria&apos;s most impressive Gothic wonder &amp;#45; and the remains of the Roman wall.  Some 1,400 period buildings stand as enduring testimony to the town&apos;s medieval history.  Enjoy lunch on your own before departing for Prague.  Meals BD</description>
  <overnight>Prague Marriott Hotel, Prague, Czech Republic</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="11">
  <title>Prague, Past and Present</title>
  <description>Discover Prague, capital of the modern Czech Republic, starting in the Hradcany (Castle) district, where 1,000&amp;#45;year&amp;#45;old Prague Castle is surrounded by a complex of palaces, gardens, museums and monasteries.  Visit the Gothic Cathedral of St.  Vitus, and enjoy a Tauck Exclusive &amp;#45; a private guided tour of the beautiful 18th&amp;#45;century Baroque libraries of Strahov Monastery.  Spend the afternoon exploring on your own or come along on a walking tour of ethereal Old Town, home to the famous Astronomical Clock, Charles Bridge and Wenceslas Square.  Meals B</description>
  <overnight>Prague Marriott Hotel, Prague, Czech Republic</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="12">
  <title>Journey Home</title>
  <description>Tour ends: Prague, Czech Republic. A transfer is included from the Prague Marriott Hotel to Prague’s Ruzyne Airport; allow a minimum of 2½ hours for flight check-in. For additional hotel nights in Budapest or Prague, inquire at time of booking.&amp;nbsp;</description>
  <overnight></overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast</meals>
</itineraryDay>
  </itineraryDetails>
  <highlights>
		
				
						Budapest  ~ Bratislava ~ Vienna ~ Dürnstein  ~ Salzburg  ~ Regensburg ~ Prague 
		
</highlights>
  <tauckValues>
    <value order="1">Gratuities to ship staff, drivers, Tauck Directors and Tauck Cruise Director</value><value order="2">All private Tauck shore excursions  $745 Value!</value><value order="3">Two nights each in Prague and Budapest at five-star hotels, centrally located in the heart of the cities</value><value order="4">Tauck Exclusive  Private Imperial Evening at a traditional palace in Vienna featuring dinner and Viennese performers</value><value order="5">Tauck Exclusive  A private tour of the beautiful Baroque libraries of Strahov Monastery in Prague</value><value order="6">Choice of a visit to the Hofburg&apos;s Imperial Silver Room or a guided tour of Schonbrunn Palace</value><value order="7">A day in Mozart&apos;s hometown of Salzburg, Austria, including a visit to Mirabell Gardens</value><value order="8">Evenings of traditional Slovakian entertainment and classical music aboard the riverboat</value><value order="9">11 breakfasts, 7 lunches and 9 dinners. Select meals in local restaurants, and wine with all dinners on the riverboat</value><value order="10">Service charges, taxes, porterage, airport transfers and applicable fuel surcharges</value>
  </tauckValues>  
  <departureDates>
    <date>
    <day>25</day>
    <month>10</month>
    <year>2010</year>
    <singlesPrice>4586</singlesPrice>
    <doublesPrice>3990</doublesPrice>
    <triplesPrice>5795</triplesPrice>
    <quadsPrice>0</quadsPrice>
    <cabins>
<cabin>
  <categoryCode>RDW20101</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>1</occupancy>
  <description>Cat 1, Base Double *Emerald</description>
  <suppliment>0</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>4586</totalPrice>
</cabin>
<cabin>
  <categoryCode>RDW20101</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>2</occupancy>
  <description>Cat 1, Base Double *Emerald</description>
  <suppliment>0</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>3990</totalPrice>
</cabin>
<cabin>
  <categoryCode>RDW20102</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>1</occupancy>
  <description>Cat 2, Mini-Suite *Emerald</description>
  <suppliment>1350</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>5936</totalPrice>
</cabin>
<cabin>
  <categoryCode>RDW20102</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>2</occupancy>
  <description>Cat 2, Mini-Suite *Emerald</description>
  <suppliment>250</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>4240</totalPrice>
</cabin>
<cabin>
  <categoryCode>RDW20103</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>1</occupancy>
  <description>Cat 3, Double *Ruby</description>
  <suppliment>1190</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>5776</totalPrice>
</cabin>
<cabin>
  <categoryCode>RDW20103</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>2</occupancy>
  <description>Cat 3, Double *Ruby</description>
  <suppliment>850</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>4840</totalPrice>
</cabin>
<cabin>
  <categoryCode>RDW20104</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>1</occupancy>
  <description>Cat 4, Mini-Suite *Ruby</description>
  <suppliment>3638</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>8224</totalPrice>
</cabin>
<cabin>
  <categoryCode>RDW20104</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>2</occupancy>
  <description>Cat 4, Mini-Suite *Ruby</description>
  <suppliment>1150</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>5140</totalPrice>
</cabin>
<cabin>
  <categoryCode>RDW20105</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>1</occupancy>
  <description>Cat 5, Mini-Suite *Diamond</description>
  <suppliment>5172</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>9758</totalPrice>
</cabin>
<cabin>
  <categoryCode>RDW20105</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>2</occupancy>
  <description>Cat 5, Mini-Suite *Diamond</description>
  <suppliment>1750</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>5740</totalPrice>
</cabin>
<cabin>
  <categoryCode>RDW20106</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>1</occupancy>
  <description>Cat 6, Suite *Diamond</description>
  <suppliment>6362</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>10948</totalPrice>
</cabin>
<cabin>
  <categoryCode>RDW20106</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>2</occupancy>
  <description>Cat 6, Suite *Diamond</description>
  <suppliment>2450</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>6440</totalPrice>
</cabin></cabins>
  </date>

</departureDates>

</tour><tour>
  <sourceId>RHN2010</sourceId>
  <title>Holland &amp; Belgium in Spring</title>
  <summary>
    <![CDATA[Colorful flowers, picturesque windmills, art museums, canal-laced medieval towns, and a look at the art of making chocolate highlight this most memorable of springtime European river cruises aboard ms Swiss Sapphire or ms Swiss Jewel.
]]>
  </summary>
  <description>
    <![CDATA[
		Revel in the vivid colors of spring in the Netherlands and Belgium
during a riverboat cruise through centuries-old inland waterways aboard ms Swiss Sapphire or ms Swiss Jewel.
View windmills standing sentinel over lush landscapes, and visit
beautiful Keukenhof Gardens. Take a luncheon cruise through the Renaissance canals of Amsterdam, and experience the past at the Zuiderzee
Museum. Taste Belgian beer, learn how Belgian chocolate and Dutch
cheese are made, and enjoy a memorable interactive culinary experience
at the only terraced castle in the Netherlands – a Tauck Exclusive!
Visit renowned art museums and World War II sites, and tour Bruges,
Brussels, Amsterdam, Antwerp, Maastricht and more on one of our most popular European river
cruises.
]]>
  </description>
  <link>http://www.tauck.com/tours/europe-tours/central-and-eastern-europe-tours/european-river-cruises-rhn-2010</link>
  <durationDays>10</durationDays>
  <durationDetails>10 days and 9 nights.</durationDetails>
  <tripType>ESCORTED_CRUISE</tripType>
  <brand>Riverboats</brand>
  <subbrand>Riverboat</subbrand>
  <gradeRating>ALL_AGES</gradeRating>
  <comfortRating>COMFORTABLE_MIXED</comfortRating>
  <startingLocation>Brussels, Belgium</startingLocation>
  <prices>
    <price currency="USD">3490</price>
    <priceDetails><![CDATA[All prices are per person in U.S. dollars. ]]></priceDetails>
  </prices>
  <images>
    <image isMain="true">http://tools.tauck.com/Files/ItineraryImages/ListImages/img_RHN2010_list.jpg</image>
    <image>http://tools.tauck.com/Files/ItineraryImages/altImages/RHN2010_alt1.jpg</image>
    <image>http://tools.tauck.com/Files/ItineraryImages/altImages/RHN2010_alt2.jpg</image>
    <image>http://tools.tauck.com/Files/ItineraryImages/altImages/RHN2010_alt3.jpg</image>
    <image isMap="true">http://tools.tauck.com/Files/ItineraryImages/MapImages/map_RHN2010.jpg</image>
  </images>
  <itinerary>
    <![CDATA[Northbound Itinerary

• = cruise day

1. Arrive Brussels 
Tour begins: 6:45 PM, Hotel Amigo. A transfer is included from Brussels Airport to the Hotel Amigo. Your five-star hotel is ideally located in the heart of Belgium’s capital. We invite you to join us this evening for a welcome cocktail reception followed by dinner. Meals D

• 2. Medieval Bruges / Embark Ship 
Travel this morning through the Belgian countryside to Bruges in the heart of Belgium’s Flanders region, a UNESCO World Heritage Site renowned for its well-preserved architecture and as the birthplace of Flemish painting. A sightseeing tour reveals the cobbled streets, half-timbered houses, flower-rimmed canals and ancient arched bridges of this beautiful medieval city, which enjoyed its “golden age” between the 12th and 15th centuries. You’ll have some time to explore historic Bruges on your own before traveling to Antwerp for embarkation on ms Swiss Sapphire or ms Swiss Jewel. A Belgian beer reception and Belgian-style dinner aboard the riverboat tonight introduce a buffet of regional delights. Meals BD

• 3. Antwerp / Albert Canal
A half-day sightseeing tour of the port city of Antwerp includes the 1905 Centraal Station, the opera house and city park. Visit Antwerp’s historic Jewish quarter – one of Europe’s largest Jewish communities – and the Peter Paul Rubens House; now a museum, this reconstructed Renaissance-Baroque home of the 17th-century Flemish painter displays his works and those of his contemporaries (may be subject to weekly closures). Experience an authentic taste of Belgium when you see how fine Belgian chocolate is made on a tasting visit to a local chocolatier. Return to the ship and set off on a cruise through the Albert Canal to Maastricht in the Netherlands. Join your fellow shipmates at the Captain’s welcome reception, followed by a shipboard dinner. Meals BLD

• 4. Maastricht / Château Neercanne
Maastricht is said to contain more than 1,400 historic buildings and monuments. An Old Town walking tour includes the remains of the city’s medieval fortifications and Helpoort, a steep-roofed gateway built in 1229. On lively Vrijthof Square, visit the 16th-century Spanish Government House and the 1,000-year-old, Gothic-style Basilica of Saint Servatius. Today’s sightseeing continues with a poignant visit to Margraten’s Netherlands American Cemetery, the only World War II cemetery in the country. Lunch today is a Tauck Exclusive – a memorable interactive culinary experience at 17th-century Château Neercanne, the only terraced castle in the Netherlands and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, where you’ll don a chef’s hat, visit the kitchen and enjoy an extraordinary meal served in the castle’s Roman grottoes. Return to Maastricht for free time before reboarding the riverboat. Dine on-board ship tonight as you leave the Albert Canal for the Maas River. Meals BLD

• 5. Maas River Cruising / Nijmegen
Spend the morning cruising the Maas River through the scenic Dutch countryside to Nijmegen, reputed to be the Netherlands’ oldest city. Ancient ruins and intact historic buildings alike document Nijmegen’s storied past – from the 8th-century Valkhof to the 14th-century church of Sint-Stevenskerk; visit the Museum Het Valkhof to see Roman artifacts and Nijmegen silver. Dock in Arnhem tonight where local performers come aboard to provide this evening’s cultural entertainment. Meals BLD

• 6. Airborne Museum / De Hoge Veluwe
From Arnhem, travel by land to Oosterbeek for a visit to the World War II Airborne Museum or an excursion to De Hoge Veluwe National Park, the Netherlands’ largest nature reserve and home to the Kröller-Müller Museum. Inside you will find over 275 works by Vincent van Gogh, including his famous Café Terrace in Arles; outside the sculpture garden entices with works by Rodin and other renowned sculptors. Rejoin the ship at Deventer and spend the remainder of day cruising. Enjoy a live performance of classical music this evening featuring local performers who entertain you aboard ship for a most memorable riverboat experience. Meals BLD

• 7. Enkhuizen / Hoorn / Alkmaar
Cruise to Enkhuizen, considered one of the Netherlands’ prettiest towns, laced with canals and historic buildings. A walking tour features a visit to the open-air Zuiderzee Museum, recreating life in a Zuiderzee (south sea) fishing village between the 1880s and the 1930s. Continue on to the 650-year-old port city of Hoorn, today the center of the Netherlands’ farming region. It was also the birthplace of explorer Willem Schouten, who in 1616 named South America’s southern tip Cape Horn in honor of his hometown. You have a choice of a walking tour of Hoorn to discover its many intact 16th- and 17th-century house facades, or a journey to the Alkmaar region in the Schermer polder. There, you’ll visit the Schermer Museum Windmill, dating from 1634, for a look at how windmills created the polder, and the Zeezicht cheese farm for a fascinating cheese-making demonstration. Meals BLD

• 8. Discover Vibrant Amsterdam
Arrive in Amsterdam for two nights; the Netherlands’ lively capital city is a vibrant blend of the historic and the contemporary, from its medieval core and surrounding network of 17th-century canals to the bustling shops, cafés and rich cultural life of a 21st-century European metropolis. Have breakfast aboard ship before departing for Keukenhof Gardens in Lisse, where millions of tulips, daffodils and hyacinths are in various stages of bloom at this time of the year. Following lunch aboard your riverboat, you’ll enjoy a relaxing afternoon in Amsterdam that’s spent as you please. Necklaced by flower-rimmed canals and gracious gabled mansions, this city is easy to explore and offers abundant opportunities to see world-class art and cultural treasures. Dinner is aboard ship tonight. Meals BLD

• 9. Rijksmuseum / Canal Cruise
Your guided exploration of Amsterdam begins with an inspiring visit to the famed Rijksmuseum, home to myriad works by the Dutch Masters, including Rembrandt’s The Night Watch, followed by time to stroll through Museumplein on your own. Lunch today is a served during a canal cruise through Amsterdam’s 17th-century canals for a different view of the Dutch capital. Head back to the boat for your last night on the waterways; your ship’s Captain and crew will be waiting to bid you farewell at a fun-filled shipboard reception and dinner. Meals BLD

10. Journey Home
Tour ends: Amsterdam, Netherlands. Fly home anytime; a transfer from your riverboat to Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport is included. Allow a minimum of 2½ hours for flight check-in. For additional hotel nights in Amsterdam (or Brussels), inquire at time of booking. Meals B

]]>
  </itinerary>
  <itineraryDetails>
    <itineraryDay day="1">
  <title>Arrive Brussels </title>
  <description>Tour begins: 6:45 PM, Hotel Amigo. A transfer is included from Brussels Airport to the Hotel Amigo. Your five-star hotel is ideally located in the heart of Belgium’s capital. We invite you to join us this evening for a welcome cocktail reception followed by dinner.</description>
  <overnight>Hotel Amigo, Brussels, Belgium</overnight>
  <meals>Dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="2">
  <title>Medieval Bruges / Embark Ship </title>
  <description>Travel this morning through the Belgian countryside to Bruges in the heart of Belgium’s Flanders region, a UNESCO World Heritage Site renowned for its well-preserved architecture and as the birthplace of Flemish painting. A sightseeing tour reveals the cobbled streets, half-timbered houses, flower-rimmed canals and ancient arched bridges of this beautiful medieval city, which enjoyed its “golden age” between the 12th and 15th centuries. You’ll have some time to explore historic Bruges on your own before traveling to Antwerp for embarkation on ms Swiss Sapphire or ms Swiss Jewel. A Belgian beer reception and Belgian-style dinner aboard the riverboat tonight introduce a buffet of regional delights.</description>
  <overnight>Cruising aboard the Riverboat</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="3">
  <title>Antwerp / Albert Canal</title>
  <description>A half-day sightseeing tour of the port city of Antwerp includes the 1905 Centraal Station, the opera house and city park. Visit Antwerp’s historic Jewish quarter – one of Europe’s largest Jewish communities – and the Peter Paul Rubens House; now a museum, this reconstructed Renaissance-Baroque home of the 17th-century Flemish painter displays his works and those of his contemporaries (may be subject to weekly closures). Experience an authentic taste of Belgium when you see how fine Belgian chocolate is made on a tasting visit to a local chocolatier. Return to the ship and set off on a cruise through the Albert Canal to Maastricht in the Netherlands. Join your fellow shipmates at the Captain’s welcome reception, followed by a shipboard dinner.</description>
  <overnight>Cruising aboard the Riverboat</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="4">
  <title>Maastricht / Château Neercanne</title>
  <description>Maastricht is said to contain more than 1,400 historic buildings and monuments. An Old Town walking tour includes the remains of the city’s medieval fortifications and Helpoort, a steep-roofed gateway built in 1229. On lively Vrijthof Square, visit the 16th-century Spanish Government House and the 1,000-year-old, Gothic-style Basilica of Saint Servatius. Today’s sightseeing continues with a poignant visit to Margraten’s Netherlands American Cemetery, the only World War II cemetery in the country. Lunch today is a Tauck Exclusive – a memorable interactive culinary experience at 17th-century Château Neercanne, the only terraced castle in the Netherlands and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, where you’ll don a chef’s hat, visit the kitchen and enjoy an extraordinary meal served in the castle’s Roman grottoes. Return to Maastricht for free time before reboarding the riverboat. Dine on-board ship tonight as you leave the Albert Canal for the Maas River.</description>
  <overnight>Cruising aboard the Riverboat</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="5">
  <title>Maas River Cruising / Nijmegen</title>
  <description>Spend the morning cruising the Maas River through the scenic Dutch countryside to Nijmegen, reputed to be the Netherlands’ oldest city. Ancient ruins and intact historic buildings alike document Nijmegen’s storied past – from the 8th-century Valkhof to the 14th-century church of Sint-Stevenskerk; visit the Museum Het Valkhof to see Roman artifacts and Nijmegen silver. Dock in Arnhem tonight where local performers come aboard to provide this evening’s cultural entertainment.</description>
  <overnight>Cruising aboard the Riverboat</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="6">
  <title>Airborne Museum / De Hoge Veluwe</title>
  <description>From Arnhem, travel by land to Oosterbeek for a visit to the World War II Airborne Museum or an excursion to De Hoge Veluwe National Park, the Netherlands’ largest nature reserve and home to the Kröller-Müller Museum. Inside you will find over 275 works by Vincent van Gogh, including his famous Café Terrace in Arles; outside the sculpture garden entices with works by Rodin and other renowned sculptors. Rejoin the ship at Deventer and spend the remainder of day cruising. Enjoy a live performance of classical music this evening featuring local performers who entertain you aboard ship for a most memorable riverboat experience.</description>
  <overnight>Cruising aboard the Riverboat</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="7">
  <title>Enkhuizen / Hoorn / Alkmaar</title>
  <description>Cruise to Enkhuizen, considered one of the Netherlands’ prettiest towns, laced with canals and historic buildings. A walking tour features a visit to the open-air Zuiderzee Museum, recreating life in a Zuiderzee (south sea) fishing village between the 1880s and the 1930s. Continue on to the 650-year-old port city of Hoorn, today the center of the Netherlands’ farming region. It was also the birthplace of explorer Willem Schouten, who in 1616 named South America’s southern tip Cape Horn in honor of his hometown. You have a choice of a walking tour of Hoorn to discover its many intact 16th- and 17th-century house facades, or a journey to the Alkmaar region in the Schermer polder. There, you’ll visit the Schermer Museum Windmill, dating from 1634, for a look at how windmills created the polder, and the Zeezicht cheese farm for a fascinating cheese-making demonstration.</description>
  <overnight>Cruising aboard the Riverboat</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="8">
  <title>Discover Vibrant Amsterdam</title>
  <description>Arrive in Amsterdam for two nights; the Netherlands’ lively capital city is a vibrant blend of the historic and the contemporary, from its medieval core and surrounding network of 17th-century canals to the bustling shops, cafés and rich cultural life of a 21st-century European metropolis. Have breakfast aboard ship before departing for Keukenhof Gardens in Lisse, where millions of tulips, daffodils and hyacinths are in various stages of bloom at this time of the year. Following lunch aboard your riverboat, you’ll enjoy a relaxing afternoon in Amsterdam that’s spent as you please. Necklaced by flower-rimmed canals and gracious gabled mansions, this city is easy to explore and offers abundant opportunities to see world-class art and cultural treasures. Dinner is aboard ship tonight.</description>
  <overnight>Cruising aboard the Riverboat</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="9">
  <title>Rijksmuseum / Canal Cruise</title>
  <description>Your guided exploration of Amsterdam begins with an inspiring visit to the famed Rijksmuseum, home to myriad works by the Dutch Masters, including Rembrandt’s The Night Watch, followed by time to stroll through Museumplein on your own. Lunch today is a served during a canal cruise through Amsterdam’s 17th-century canals for a different view of the Dutch capital. Head back to the boat for your last night on the waterways; your ship’s Captain and crew will be waiting to bid you farewell at a fun-filled shipboard reception and dinner.</description>
  <overnight>Cruising aboard the Riverboat</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="10">
  <title>Journey Home</title>
  <description>Tour ends: Amsterdam, Netherlands. Fly home anytime; a transfer from your riverboat to Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport is included. Allow a minimum of 2½ hours for flight check-in. For additional hotel nights in Amsterdam (or Brussels), inquire at time of booking.</description>
  <overnight></overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast</meals>
</itineraryDay>
  </itineraryDetails>
  <highlights>
		

Brussels 

~ Bruges ~ Antwerp ~ Maastricht ~ Enkhuizen ~ Hoorn ~ Amsterdam 

</highlights>
  <tauckValues>
    <value order="1">Gratuities to ship staff, drivers, local guides, Tauck Directors and Tauck Cruise Director</value><value order="2">All private Tauck shore excursions  $720 Value!</value><value order="3">Overnight stay in Brussels at the 5-star Hotel Amigo, centrally located in the heart of the city</value><value order="4">A Tauck Exclusive: Interactive culinary experience at Chateau Neercanne, a UNESCO World Heritage Site</value><value order="5">Visits to Keukenhof Gardens, Amsterdam&apos;s Rijksmuseum, and Museum Het Valkhof in Nijmegen</value><value order="6">A scenic luncheon canal cruise in Amsterdam</value><value order="7">A cheese-making demonstration and a visit to a 17th-century windmill museum in the Alkmaar region</value><value order="8">Visits to the World War II Airborne Museum in Oosterbeek, or Arnhem&apos;s Kroller-Muller Museum</value><value order="9">A poignant visit to the Netherlands American Cemetery</value><value order="10">Breakfast &amp; dinner daily and most lunches. Select meals in local restaurants; wine with dinner on the riverboat</value><value order="11">Service charges, taxes, porterage, airport transfers and applicable fuel surcharges</value>
  </tauckValues>  
  
</tour><tour>
  <sourceId>RHS2010</sourceId>
  <title>Holland &amp; Belgium in Spring</title>
  <summary>
    <![CDATA[Colorful flowers, picturesque windmills, art museums, canal-laced medieval towns, and a look at the art of making chocolate highlight this most memorable of springtime Belgium and Holland cruises along scenic inland waterways aboard ms Swiss Sapphire or ms Swiss Jewel.
]]>
  </summary>
  <description>
    <![CDATA[Revel in the vivid colors of spring in the Netherlands and Belgium
during a riverboat cruise through centuries-old inland waterways aboard ms Swiss Sapphire or ms Swiss Jewel.
View windmills standing sentinel over lush landscapes that stretch as
far as the eye can see; celebrate the season with a visit to
Keukenhof Gardens. Take a luncheon cruise through the Renaissance canals of Amsterdam, and experience the past at the Zuiderzee Museum. Taste Dutch
gin, learn how Belgian chocolate and Dutch cheese are made, and enjoy
an exclusive interactive culinary experience at the only terraced
castle in the Netherlands. Visit renowned art museums and World War II
sites, with city sightseeing in Amsterdam, Antwerp, and Maastricht on
this most interesting and colorful of Belgium and Holland cruises.

]]>
  </description>
  <link>http://www.tauck.com/tours/europe-tours/central-and-eastern-europe-tours/holland-cruises-rhs-2010</link>
  <durationDays>10</durationDays>
  <durationDetails>10 days and 9 nights.</durationDetails>
  <tripType>ESCORTED_CRUISE</tripType>
  <brand>Riverboats</brand>
  <subbrand>Riverboat</subbrand>
  <gradeRating>ALL_AGES</gradeRating>
  <comfortRating>COMFORTABLE_MIXED</comfortRating>
  <startingLocation>Amsterdam, Netherlands</startingLocation>
  <prices>
    <price currency="USD">3490</price>
    <priceDetails><![CDATA[All prices are per person in U.S. dollars. ]]></priceDetails>
  </prices>
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  <itinerary>
    <![CDATA[Southbound Itinerary

• = cruise day

• 1. Arrive Amsterdam 
Tour begins: 4:00 PM, Amsterdam, Netherlands. A transfer is included from Schiphol Airport to your riverboat. Settle into your cabin and join us for a Dutch Gin tasting this evening that is sure to whet your thirst for a fun-filled Tauck river cruise from Holland to Belgium. Meet your fellow travelers at our welcome dinner tonight. Meals D

• 2. Discover Amsterdam / Keukenhof 
Begin your day with an excursion to Keukenhof Gardens  in Lisse, where millions of tulips, daffodils and hyacinths are in various stages of bloom at this time of the year. Back in Amsterdam, enjoy a luncheon cruise along the city’s tree-lined canals, then visit the Rijksmuseum, one of the world’s most beloved museums. Your expert guide will share fascinating insights about the world-famous art you will see here, including Rembrandt’s The Night Watch, as well as paintings by the Old Dutch Masters Jan Vermeer, Frans Hals, and Jan Steen. More than 400 17th-century masterpieces are on display in the museum, along with a wealth of antique Delftware and silver. Your riverboat charts a course for Hoorn tonight. Meals BLD

• 3. Hoorn / Alkmaar / Enkhuizen
A typical Zuiderzee port village, Hoorn was once a prosperous 17th-century sea-trading port and capital of West Friesland. Today it is the center of the Netherlands’ farming region. Discover its history, past and present, on a guided walking tour or journey with us to the Alkmaar region in the Schermer polder. There you will visit the 17th-century Schermer Museum Windmill for a look at how windmills created the polder, then it’s on to the family-owned Zeezicht cheese farm for an interactive cheese-making demonstration. Your riverboat continues on to Enkhuizen. The former center of herring fishing, this pretty town is laced with canals and historic buildings including the open-air Zuiderzee Museum, recreating life in a Zuiderzee (south sea) fishing village between the 1880s and the 1930s. Dock in Kampen tonight. Meals BLD

• 4. Airborne Museum / De Hoge Veluwe 
On-board commentary by your Tauck Director enriches your cruise down the Lek and the Neder Rijn to Zutphen, where you’ll disembark for a choice of sightseeing in Arnhem or De Hoge Veluwe National Park. Arnhem made headlines in World War II when its strategic bridge over the Lower Rhine became the target of a massive airborne assault. Tour the battlegrounds and see the “John Frost Bridge” before visiting the Airborne Museum. Or, travel to nearby De Hoge Veluwe National Park. The largest nature reserve in the Netherlands, it is home to scenic forests, drifting sand dunes, grassy plains, deer and wild boar – and the Kröller-Müller Museum. Inside you will find over 275 works by Vincent van Gogh, including the famous Café Terrace in Arles; outside a sculpture garden hosts works by Rodin and other renowned artists. Rejoin your riverboat in Arnhem early this evening and listen to classical music by La Strada as the ship cruises to ancient Nijmegen. Meals BLD

• 5. Nijmegen / Maas River Cruising
Explore one of Holland’s oldest cities when you disembark ship in Nijmegen this morning. Ancient ruins and intact buildings document its storied past – from the 8th-century Valkhof, once the stronghold of Charlemagne, to the 14th-century church of Sint-Stevenskerk and the well-preserved Grote Markt. See artifacts from Roman coins to Nijmegen guild objects at the Museum Het Valkhof. Your riverboat meanders along the scenic Maas River as you enjoy a relaxing afternoon and evening aboard ship. Meals BLD

• 6. Visit Historic Maastricht 
Rivaling Nijmegen as one of the country’s oldest towns, Maastricht is said to contain more than 1,400 historic buildings and monuments. A walking tour of Old Town includes ancient ruins of medieval fortifications and Helpoort, a steep-roofed gateway built in 1229. On Vrijthof Square, the town’s central lime-tree-shaded square, visit the 16th-century Spanish Government House and the 1,000-year-old, Gothic-style Sint-Servaasbasiliek (Basilica of Saint Servatius). Meals BLD

• 7. Margraten / Albert Canal 
Drive to Margraten for a poignant visit to the Netherlands American Cemetery, the only World War II cemetery in the country. Lunch today is a Tauck Exclusive – a memorable interactive culinary experience at 17th-century Château Neercanne, the sole terraced castle in the Netherlands and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, where you’ll don a chef’s hat, visit the kitchen and enjoy an extraordinary meal served in the castle’s Roman grottoes. Meet your riverboat in Hasselt for a cruise along the entire length of the Albert Canal to Antwerp, one of the great cultural capitals of Europe. A Belgian-style dinner on board this evening serves as the perfect introduction for your exploration of Belgium. The ship arrives in Antwerp near midnight; an important Gallo-Roman port in the 2nd century, today this city bustles with medieval treasures and modern-day life. Meals BLD

• 8. Discover Antwerp
A hidden gem of Western Europe, Antwerp is a walking city, easily explored on foot. Meet your local guide right on the dock for an orientation tour of the city. Sightseeing includes the majestic Centraal Station, built at the turn of the 20th century, the opera house and Grote Markt, lined with Guild houses and the huge fountain depicting the legendary monster slayer Silvius Brabo and the fanciful town hall. Visit Antwerp’s historic Jewish quarter – one of Europe’s largest Jewish communities – and the Rubenshuis, the reconstructed Renaissance-Baroque home of the famed 17th-century Flemish painter, Peter Paul Rubens; go inside to see some of his original works (may be subject to weekly closures). You haven’t really experienced an authentic taste of Belgium until you sample its delectable chocolate. See how fine Belgian chocolate is made on a tasting visit to a local chocolatier who specializes in handmade confections. Your day ends with a gala farewell reception and Captain’s dinner aboard the riverboat tonight. Meals BLD

9. Disembark Ship / Bruges / Brussels
After disembarking ship this morning, it’s off to Bruges in the heart of Belgium’s Flanders region. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, Bruges is renowned for its extraordinary medieval Gothic architecture and its reputation as the birthplace of Flemish painting. This remarkably preserved city enjoyed its “golden age” between the 12th and 15th centuries when it was a wealthy and vital port linking Flanders with the lucrative Mediterranean Sea trade, and it still enchants today with a graceful fairy-tale ambiance that includes flower-rimmed canals, cobbled streets, half-timbered houses and ancient arched bridges. Your final destination today is the capital city of Brussels where your accommodations at the Hotel Amigo are superbly located near one of the most beautiful squares in all of Europe, and are within walking distance of several historic sites. Enjoy dinner at a popular local restaurant tonight. Meals BD

10. Journey Home
Tour ends: Brussels, Belgium. Fly home anytime; a transfer from the Hotel Amigo to Brussels Airport is included. Allow a minimum of 2½ hours for flight check-in. Meals B

]]>
  </itinerary>
  <itineraryDetails>
    <itineraryDay day="1">
  <title>Arrive Amsterdam </title>
  <description>Tour begins: 4:00 PM, Amsterdam, Netherlands. A transfer is included from Schiphol Airport to your riverboat. Settle into your cabin and join us for a Dutch Gin tasting this evening that is sure to whet your thirst for a fun-filled Tauck river cruise from Holland to Belgium. Meet your fellow travelers at our welcome dinner tonight.</description>
  <overnight>Cruising aboard the Riverboat</overnight>
  <meals>Dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="2">
  <title>Discover Amsterdam / Keukenhof </title>
  <description>Discover Amsterdam / Keukenhof 
Begin your day with an excursion to Keukenhof Gardens&amp;nbsp; in Lisse, where millions of tulips, daffodils and hyacinths are in various stages of bloom at this time of the year. Back in Amsterdam, enjoy a luncheon cruise along the city’s tree-lined canals, then visit the Rijksmuseum, one of the world’s most beloved museums. Your expert guide will share fascinating insights about the world-famous art you will see here, including Rembrandt’s The Night Watch, as well as paintings by the Old Dutch Masters Jan Vermeer, Frans Hals, and Jan Steen. More than 400 17th-century masterpieces are on display in the museum, along with a wealth of antique Delftware and silver. Your riverboat charts a course for Hoorn tonight.</description>
  <overnight>Cruising aboard the Riverboat</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="3">
  <title>Hoorn / Alkmaar / Enkhuizen</title>
  <description>A typical Zuiderzee port village, Hoorn was once a prosperous 17th-century sea-trading port and capital of West Friesland. Today it is the center of the Netherlands’ farming region. Discover its history, past and present, on a guided walking tour or journey with us to the Alkmaar region in the Schermer polder. There you will visit the 17th-century Schermer Museum Windmill for a look at how windmills created the polder, then it’s on to the family-owned Zeezicht cheese farm for an interactive cheese-making demonstration. Your riverboat continues on to Enkhuizen. The former center of herring fishing, this pretty town is laced with canals and historic buildings including the open-air Zuiderzee Museum, recreating life in a Zuiderzee (south sea) fishing village between the 1880s and the 1930s. Dock in Kampen tonight.</description>
  <overnight>Cruising aboard the Riverboat</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="4">
  <title>Airborne Museum / De Hoge Veluwe </title>
  <description>On-board commentary by your Tauck Director enriches your cruise down the Lek and the Neder Rijn to Zutphen, where you’ll disembark for a choice of sightseeing in Arnhem or De Hoge Veluwe National Park. Arnhem made headlines in World War II when its strategic bridge over the Lower Rhine became the target of a massive airborne assault. Tour the battlegrounds and see the “John Frost Bridge” before visiting the Airborne Museum. Or, travel to nearby De Hoge Veluwe National Park. The largest nature reserve in the Netherlands, it is home to scenic forests, drifting sand dunes, grassy plains, deer and wild boar – and the Kröller-Müller Museum. Inside you will find over 275 works by Vincent van Gogh, including the famous Café Terrace in Arles; outside a sculpture garden hosts works by Rodin and other renowned artists. Rejoin your riverboat in Arnhem early this evening and listen to classical music by La Strada as the ship cruises to ancient Nijmegen.</description>
  <overnight>Cruising aboard the Riverboat</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="5">
  <title>Nijmegen / Maas River Cruising</title>
  <description>Explore one of Holland’s oldest cities when you disembark ship in Nijmegen this morning. Ancient ruins and intact buildings document its storied past – from the 8th-century Valkhof, once the stronghold of Charlemagne, to the 14th-century church of Sint-Stevenskerk and the well-preserved Grote Markt. See artifacts from Roman coins to Nijmegen guild objects at the Museum Het Valkhof. Your riverboat meanders along the scenic Maas River as you enjoy a relaxing afternoon and evening aboard ship.</description>
  <overnight>Cruising aboard the Riverboat</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="6">
  <title>Visit Historic Maastricht </title>
  <description>Rivaling Nijmegen as one of the country’s oldest towns, Maastricht is said to contain more than 1,400 historic buildings and monuments. A walking tour of Old Town includes ancient ruins of medieval fortifications and Helpoort, a steep-roofed gateway built in 1229. On Vrijthof Square, the town’s central lime-tree-shaded square, visit the 16th-century Spanish Government House and the 1,000-year-old, Gothic-style Sint-Servaasbasiliek (Basilica of Saint Servatius).</description>
  <overnight>Cruising aboard the Riverboat</overnight>
  <meals> Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="7">
  <title>Margraten / Albert Canal </title>
  <description>Drive to Margraten for a poignant visit to the Netherlands American Cemetery, the only World War II cemetery in the country. Lunch today is a Tauck Exclusive – a memorable interactive culinary experience at 17th-century Château Neercanne, the sole terraced castle in the Netherlands and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, where you’ll don a chef’s hat, visit the kitchen and enjoy an extraordinary meal served in the castle’s Roman grottoes. Meet your riverboat in Hasselt for a cruise along the entire length of the Albert Canal to Antwerp, one of the great cultural capitals of Europe. A Belgian-style dinner on board this evening serves as the perfect introduction for your exploration of Belgium. The ship arrives in Antwerp near midnight; an important Gallo-Roman port in the 2nd century, today this city bustles with medieval treasures and modern-day life.</description>
  <overnight>Cruising aboard the Riverboat</overnight>
  <meals> Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="8">
  <title>Discover Antwerp</title>
  <description>A hidden gem of Western Europe, Antwerp is a walking city, easily explored on foot. Meet your local guide right on the dock for an orientation tour of the city. Sightseeing includes the majestic Centraal Station, built at the turn of the 20th century, the opera house and Grote Markt, lined with Guild houses and the huge fountain depicting the legendary monster slayer Silvius Brabo and the fanciful town hall. Visit Antwerp’s historic Jewish quarter – one of Europe’s largest Jewish communities – and the Rubenshuis, the reconstructed Renaissance-Baroque home of the famed 17th-century Flemish painter, Peter Paul Rubens; go inside to see some of his original works (may be subject to weekly closures). You haven’t really experienced an authentic taste of Belgium until you sample its delectable chocolate. See how fine Belgian chocolate is made on a tasting visit to a local chocolatier who specializes in handmade confections. Your day ends with a gala farewell reception and Captain’s dinner aboard the riverboat tonight.</description>
  <overnight>Cruising aboard the Riverboat</overnight>
  <meals> Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="9">
  <title>Disembark Ship / Bruges / Brussels</title>
  <description>After disembarking ship this morning, it’s off to Bruges in the heart of Belgium’s Flanders region. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, Bruges is renowned for its extraordinary medieval Gothic architecture and its reputation as the birthplace of Flemish painting. This remarkably preserved city enjoyed its “golden age” between the 12th and 15th centuries when it was a wealthy and vital port linking Flanders with the lucrative Mediterranean Sea trade, and it still enchants today with a graceful fairy-tale ambiance that includes flower-rimmed canals, cobbled streets, half-timbered houses and ancient arched bridges. Your final destination today is the capital city of Brussels where your accommodations at the Hotel Amigo are superbly located near one of the most beautiful squares in all of Europe, and are within walking distance of several historic sites. Enjoy dinner at a popular local restaurant tonight.</description>
  <overnight>Hotel Amigo, Brussels, Belgium</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="10">
  <title>Journey Home</title>
  <description>Tour ends: Brussels, Belgium. Fly home anytime; a transfer from the Hotel Amigo to Brussels Airport is included. Allow a minimum of 2½ hours for flight check-in.</description>
  <overnight></overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast</meals>
</itineraryDay>
  </itineraryDetails>
  <highlights>
		
				
						Amsterdam 
				
						~ Hoorn ~ Enkhuizen ~ Arnhem ~ Maastricht ~ Antwerp ~ Bruges ~ Brussels 
				
		
</highlights>
  <tauckValues>
    <value order="1">Gratuities to ship staff, drivers, local guides, Tauck Directors and Tauck Cruise Director</value><value order="2">All private Tauck shore excursions  $720 Value!</value><value order="3">Overnight stay in Brussels at the 5-star Hotel Amigo, centrally located in the heart of the city</value><value order="4">A Tauck Exclusive: Interactive culinary experience at Chateau Neercanne, a UNESCO World Heritage Site</value><value order="5">Visits to Keukenhof Gardens, Amsterdam&apos;s Rijksmuseum, and Museum Het Valkhof in Nijmegen</value><value order="6">A scenic luncheon canal cruise in Amsterdam</value><value order="7">A cheese-making demonstration and a visit to a 17th-century windmill museum in the Alkmaar region</value><value order="8">Visits to the World War II Airborne Museum in Oosterbeek, or Arnhems Kroller-Muller Museum</value><value order="9">A poignant visit to the Netherlands American Cemetery</value><value order="10">Breakfast &amp; dinner daily and most lunches. Select meals in local restaurants; wine with dinner on the riverboat</value><value order="11">Service charges, taxes, porterage, airport transfers and applicable fuel surcharges</value>
  </tauckValues>  
  
</tour><tour>
  <sourceId>RLE2010</sourceId>
  <title>Budapest to the Black Sea</title>
  <summary>
    <![CDATA[Explore Europe&apos;s heart on one of Tauck&apos;s popular Danube cruises aboard ms Swiss Sapphire or ms Swiss Jewel between Budapest and the Black Sea. Discover dramatic castles, centuries-old monasteries, and the cultural treasures of Budapest and Bucharest on two-night stays at 5-star hotels.
]]>
  </summary>
  <description>
    <![CDATA[Chart a leisurely course along the romantic lower Danube River aboard Tauck&apos;s luxury riverboats ms Swiss Sapphire or ms Swiss Jewel, exploring rich cultural legacies. Cruise by medieval monasteries, citadels and villages, and through the Iron Gate of the Danube. Enjoy a horse-drawn wagon ride, and see performances of folkloric dancing and horsemanship skills. Examine fascinating museums of fine art, traditional homesteads and folk art. Share local specialties with your Bulgarian contemporaries at a special home-hosted lunch; choose to visit a former royal Romanian residence or the isolated island monastery where the original Dracula is said to be entombed; and put your feet in the Black Sea. One of several Danube cruises from Tauck, this memorable journey travels through Hungary, Croatia, Serbia, Bulgaria and Romania, with two nights on land at 5-star hotels in Budapest and Bucharest.
]]>
  </description>
  <link>http://www.tauck.com/tours/europe-tours/central-and-eastern-europe-tours/danube-cruises-rle-2010</link>
  <durationDays>12</durationDays>
  <durationDetails>12 days and 11 nights.</durationDetails>
  <tripType>ESCORTED_CRUISE</tripType>
  <brand>Riverboats</brand>
  <subbrand>Riverboat</subbrand>
  <gradeRating>ALL_AGES</gradeRating>
  <comfortRating>COMFORTABLE_MIXED</comfortRating>
  <startingLocation>Budapest, Hungary</startingLocation>
  <prices>
    <price currency="USD">4290</price>
    <priceDetails><![CDATA[All prices are per person in U.S. dollars. ]]></priceDetails>
  </prices>
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  <itinerary>
    <![CDATA[Eastbound Itinerary

• = cruise day

1. Arrive Budapest
Tour begins: 6:00 PM, Le Méridien Budapest. A transfer is included from Ferihegy Airport to Le Méridien Budapest. Join us for a special welcome cocktail reception and dinner this evening in Budapest. Meals D

2. Buda + Pest = Budapest
A guided sightseeing tour of Pest includes a visit to the neo-Renaissance State Opera House, filled with works of famous Hungarian artists. View a mix of architectural masterpieces and historic monuments – City Park, patriotic Heroes’ Square, bustling Central Market Hall, the neo-Gothic Parliament building, and tree-lined Andrassy Avenue. Spend the rest of the day as you please – there’s so much to see and do! Meals B

• 3. Discover Buda / Embark Riverboat
Following a morning at leisure in one of Europe’s most fashionable cities, a guided walking tour of Buda includes Castle Hill, featuring Fishermen’s Bastion overlooking the Danube, and 700-year-old Matthias Church (may be closed on some days due to services). Board Tauck’s riverboat for the start of your weeklong cruise along the lower Danube River, setting off for Solt, Hungary. Meals BD

• 4. Solt / Kalocsa
Take a horse-drawn wagon ride to the Equestrian Center, where local craftsmen and traditional Puszta horsemen demonstrate their skills. Your riverboat cruises to Kalocsa this afternoon, celebrated for its paprika and folk art. Visit the magnificent Rococo-style paneled library in the 18th-century Baroque Bishop’s Palace, considered one of the finest libraries in Europe, and attend a wine tasting at a Hungarian winery before rejoining the riverboat. Meals BLD

• 5. Cruise to Croatia
An on-board lecture about the diverse events and cultural influences that have contributed to Croatia’s turbulent history sets the stage for your visit to the 10th-century city of Vukovar, rebuilding after the 1990s war. Vukovar was renowned for its elegant 18th-century Baroque mansions, and today is a mix of old and new. Cruise to Serbia this afternoon, with commentary from your Tauck Director. Meals BLD

• 6. Belgrade, Serbia’s Capital
Awaken dockside in Belgrade, the cosmopolitan capital of Serbia; the city’s roots date back to a Celtic settlement in 3 BC. A lecture aboard ship paves the way for a guided sightseeing tour that includes visits to Tito’s Memorial, St. Sava Church, and Kalemegdan Fortress; see Slavija Square, Parliament, City Hall, Republic Square and the National Theatre. You’ll have time on your own before returning to the riverboat, where this evening a music and dance presentation follows dinner. Meals BLD

• 7. Iron Gate of the Danube
Activities on the riverboat throughout your cruise include special lectures and presentations, such as cooking demonstrations or music and dance performances. Spend a relaxing day cruising the Danube River through the scenic heartland of Eastern Europe. Pass through the Kazan Narrows and the Iron Gate, a series of narrow gorges where the Danube courses down from the towering Carpathian Mountains. Today you’ll see a monument to the 2nd-century Dacian King Decebalus carved into the Danube’s rocky bank. Europe’s tallest rock sculpture, it was completed in 2004 after a decade of work by a dozen sculptors. View the Transylvanian Alps as you cruise to Bulgaria. Meals BLD

• 8. Welcome to Bulgaria
For those fascinated by the imagery and symbols in visual arts –and the subject of several popular novels –, there is an opportunity to attend a lecture and demonstration on Iconography this morning. Your riverboat arrives into Svishtov, Bulgaria, for culturally rich visits to nearby Bulgarian towns. Travel to Veliko Turnovo, which served as Bulgaria’s capital in medieval times – the sight of its ancient walled fortress and castle nestled atop three hills on the Yantra River is memorable. In the neighboring town of Arbanassi, sample local cuisine at a home-hosted private lunch, where you’ll have a unique opportunity to meet and dine with your Bulgarian contemporaries. The day ends back on board the riverboat with a special music and dance performance and a look at traditional Bulgarian customs. Meals BLD

• 9. Romania’s Black Sea Coast
Your riverboat arrives in Cernavoda, Romania, this morning for a day trip to the beautiful Black Sea coast. Take a guided tour of the resort city of Constanta, then visit the seaside resort of Mamaia, one of the largest on Romania’s coast. A popular vacation destination for over a century, Mamaia boasts the only beaches in Europe featuring fine, pure-white sand. Back on the riverboat, your cruise comes to an end this evening when we celebrate new knowledge, renewed inspiration and everlasting friendships at the Captain’s farewell cocktail reception and dinner. Meals BLD

10. Disembark Ship / Bucharest
Disembark the riverboat in Cernavoda and travel through the Romanian countryside to Bucharest for a two-night stay. Following lunch at a local restaurant, a sightseeing tour of Romania’s capital, once regarded as “the Paris of the Balkans,” includes Revolution Square and the granite Triumphal Arch, a smaller copy of Paris’ Arc de Triomphe. Your day also features a visit to Bucharest’s huge People’s Palace, home to the Romanian Parliament; some parts of it are still unfinished! Your landmark hotel, Athénée Palace Hilton Bucharest, has played a role in Bucharest history since 1914; it is one of Romania’s top hotels. Meals BLD

11. Peles Castle / Snagov Monastery
You have a choice of sightseeing today. Take a full day excursion to tour fairy-tale Peles Castle in Sinaia (subject to weekly closures), built for the Romanian royal family in the 1880s. Alternatively, take a boat across Snagov Lake to tiny Snagov Island, the reputed burial place of Vlad the Impaler (inspiration for Bram Stoker’s Dracula). Meals BL

12. Journey Home
Tour ends: Bucharest, Romania. A transfer from the Athénée Palace Hilton Bucharest to Bucharest Airport is included; allow 2½ hours for flight check-in. Meals B

]]>
  </itinerary>
  <itineraryDetails>
    <itineraryDay day="1">
  <title>Arrive Budapest</title>
  <description>Tour begins: 6:00 PM, Le M&amp;#233;ridien Budapest.  A transfer is included from Ferihegy Airport to Le M&amp;#233;ridien Budapest.  Join us for a special welcome cocktail reception and dinner this evening in Budapest.  Meals D</description>
  <overnight>Le Méridien Budapest, Hungary</overnight>
  <meals>Dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="2">
  <title>Buda + Pest = Budapest</title>
  <description>A guided sightseeing tour of Pest includes a visit to the neo&amp;#45;Renaissance State Opera House, filled with works of famous Hungarian artists.  View a mix of architectural masterpieces and historic monuments &amp;#45; City Park, patriotic Heroes&apos; Square, bustling Central Market Hall, the neo&amp;#45;Gothic Parliament building, and tree&amp;#45;lined Andrassy Avenue.  Spend the rest of the day as you please &amp;#45; there&apos;s so much to see and do! Meals B</description>
  <overnight>Le Méridien Budapest, Hungary</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="3">
  <title>Discover Buda / Embark Riverboat</title>
  <description>Following a morning at leisure in one of Europe&apos;s most fashionable cities, a guided walking tour of Buda includes Castle Hill, featuring Fishermen&apos;s Bastion overlooking the Danube, and 700&amp;#45;year&amp;#45;old Matthias Church (may be closed on some days due to services).  Board Tauck&apos;s riverboat for the start of your weeklong cruise along the lower Danube River, setting off for Solt, Hungary.  Meals BD</description>
  <overnight>Cruising aboard the Riverboat</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="4">
  <title>Solt / Kalocsa</title>
  <description>Take a horse&amp;#45;drawn wagon ride to the Equestrian Center, where local craftsmen and traditional Puszta horsemen demonstrate their skills.  Your riverboat cruises to Kalocsa this afternoon, celebrated for its paprika and folk art.  Visit the magnificent Rococo&amp;#45;style paneled library in the 18th&amp;#45;century Baroque Bishop&apos;s Palace, considered one of the finest libraries in Europe, and attend a wine tasting at a Hungarian winery before rejoining the riverboat.  Meals BLD</description>
  <overnight>Cruising aboard the Riverboat</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="5">
  <title>Cruise to Croatia</title>
  <description>An on&amp;#45;board lecture about the diverse events and cultural influences that have contributed to Croatia&apos;s turbulent history sets the stage for your visit to the 10th&amp;#45;century city of Vukovar, rebuilding after the 1990s war.  Vukovar was renowned for its elegant 18th&amp;#45;century Baroque mansions, and today is a mix of old and new.  Cruise to Serbia this afternoon, with commentary from your Tauck Director.  Meals BLD</description>
  <overnight>Cruising aboard the Riverboat</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="6">
  <title>Belgrade, Serbia&apos;s Capital</title>
  <description>Awaken dockside in Belgrade, the cosmopolitan capital of Serbia; the city&apos;s roots date back to a Celtic settlement in 3 BC.  A lecture aboard ship paves the way for a guided sightseeing tour that includes visits to Tito&apos;s Memorial, St.  Sava Church, and Kalemegdan Fortress; see Slavija Square, Parliament, City Hall, Republic Square and the National Theatre.  You&apos;ll have time on your own before returning to the riverboat, where this evening a music and dance presentation follows dinner.  Meals BLD</description>
  <overnight>Cruising aboard the Riverboat</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="7">
  <title>Iron Gate of the Danube</title>
  <description>Activities on the riverboat throughout your cruise include special lectures and presentations, such as cooking demonstrations or music and dance performances.  Spend a relaxing day cruising the Danube River through the scenic heartland of Eastern Europe.  Pass through the Kazan Narrows and the Iron Gate, a series of narrow gorges where the Danube courses down from the towering Carpathian Mountains.  Today you&apos;ll see a monument to the 2nd&amp;#45;century Dacian King Decebalus carved into the Danube&apos;s rocky bank.  Europe&apos;s tallest rock sculpture, it was completed in 2004 after a decade of work by a dozen sculptors.  View the Transylvanian Alps as you cruise to Bulgaria.  Meals BLD</description>
  <overnight>Cruising aboard the Riverboat</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="8">
  <title>Welcome to Bulgaria</title>
  <description>For those fascinated by the imagery and symbols in visual arts &amp;#45;and the subject of several popular novels &amp;#45;, there is an opportunity to attend a lecture and demonstration on Iconography this morning.  Your riverboat arrives into Svishtov, Bulgaria, for culturally rich visits to nearby Bulgarian towns.  Travel to Veliko Turnovo, which served as Bulgaria&apos;s capital in medieval times &amp;#45; the sight of its ancient walled fortress and castle nestled atop three hills on the Yantra River is memorable.  In the neighboring town of Arbanassi, sample local cuisine at a home&amp;#45;hosted private lunch, where you&apos;ll have a unique opportunity to meet and dine with your Bulgarian contemporaries.  The day ends back on board the riverboat with a special music and dance performance and a look at traditional Bulgarian customs.  Meals BLD</description>
  <overnight>Cruising aboard the Riverboat</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="9">
  <title>Romania&apos;s Black Sea Coast</title>
  <description>Your riverboat arrives in Cernavoda, Romania, this morning for a day trip to the beautiful Black Sea coast.  Take a guided tour of the resort city of Constanta, then visit the seaside resort of Mamaia, one of the largest on Romania&apos;s coast.  A popular vacation destination for over a century, Mamaia boasts the only beaches in Europe featuring fine, pure&amp;#45;white sand.  Back on the riverboat, your cruise comes to an end this evening when we celebrate new knowledge, renewed inspiration and everlasting friendships at the Captain&apos;s farewell cocktail reception and dinner.  Meals BLD</description>
  <overnight>Cruising aboard the Riverboat</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="10">
  <title>Disembark Ship / Bucharest</title>
  <description>Disembark the riverboat in Cernavoda and travel through the Romanian countryside to Bucharest for a two&amp;#45;night stay.  Following lunch at a local restaurant, a sightseeing tour of Romania&apos;s capital, once regarded as “the Paris of the Balkans,” includes Revolution Square and the granite Triumphal Arch, a smaller copy of Paris&apos; Arc de Triomphe.  Your day also features a visit to Bucharest&apos;s huge People&apos;s Palace, home to the Romanian Parliament; some parts of it are still unfinished! Your landmark hotel, Ath&amp;#233;n&amp;#233;e Palace Hilton Bucharest, has played a role in Bucharest history since 1914; it is one of Romania&apos;s top hotels.  Meals BLD</description>
  <overnight>JW Marriott Bucharest Grand Hotel, Bucharest, Romania</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="11">
  <title>Peles Castle / Snagov Monastery</title>
  <description>You have a choice of sightseeing today.  Take a full day excursion to tour fairy&amp;#45;tale Peles Castle in Sinaia (subject to weekly closures), built for the Romanian royal family in the 1880s.  Alternatively, take a boat across Snagov Lake to tiny Snagov Island, the reputed burial place of Vlad the Impaler (inspiration for Bram Stoker&apos;s Dracula).  Meals BL</description>
  <overnight>JW Marriott Bucharest Grand Hotel, Bucharest, Romania</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="12">
  <title>Journey Home</title>
  <description>Tour ends: Bucharest, Romania. A transfer from the Athénée Palace Hilton Bucharest to Bucharest Airport is included; allow 2½ hours for flight check-in.</description>
  <overnight></overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast</meals>
</itineraryDay>
  </itineraryDetails>
  <highlights>
		
				Hungary ~ Croatia ~ Serbia ~ Bulgaria ~ Romania 
		
</highlights>
  <tauckValues>
    <value order="1">Gratuities to ship staff, drivers, local guides, Tauck Directors and Tauck Cruise Director</value><value order="2">All private Tauck shore excursions  $585 Value!</value><value order="3">Two nights each in Budapest and Bucharest at 5-star hotels, centrally located in the heart of the cities</value><value order="4">A chance to meet Bulgarian contemporaries and sample local cuisine at a home-hosted lunch in Arbanassi</value><value order="5">Visits in Romania to the popular Black Sea resort of Mamaia, and Bucharest&apos;s massive People&apos;s Palace</value><value order="6">A horse-drawn wagon ride to an equestrian center in Hungary, where Puszta horsemen and local craftsmen share time-honored cultural traditions</value><value order="7">Passage through the celebrated Iron Gate, a dramatic series of gorges and narrows on the Danube River</value><value order="8">Choice of Romanian excursions  to Peles Castle in Sinaia, or to the isolated Snagov Monastery, reputed burial place of Vlad Tepes, the original Dracula</value><value order="9">11 breakfasts, 8 lunches and 9 dinners  wine with dinner is included on the riverboat, and select meals will be in local restaurants</value><value order="10">Service charges, taxes, porterage, airport transfers and applicable fuel surcharges</value>
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    <day>1</day>
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  <occupancy>2</occupancy>
  <description>Cat 6, Suite *Diamond</description>
  <suppliment>2450</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>7440</totalPrice>
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  <categoryCode>RLE20106</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>3</occupancy>
  <description>Cat 6, Suite *Diamond</description>
  <suppliment>0</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>6695</totalPrice>
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  <date>
    <day>5</day>
    <month>10</month>
    <year>2010</year>
    <singlesPrice>5426</singlesPrice>
    <doublesPrice>4590</doublesPrice>
    <triplesPrice>6335</triplesPrice>
    <quadsPrice>0</quadsPrice>
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  <occupancy>1</occupancy>
  <description>Cat 1, Base Double *Emerald</description>
  <suppliment>0</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>5426</totalPrice>
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  <categoryCode>RLE20101</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>2</occupancy>
  <description>Cat 1, Base Double *Emerald</description>
  <suppliment>0</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>4590</totalPrice>
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  <occupancy>1</occupancy>
  <description>Cat 2, Mini-Suite *Emerald</description>
  <suppliment>1350</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>6776</totalPrice>
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  <occupancy>2</occupancy>
  <description>Cat 2, Mini-Suite *Emerald</description>
  <suppliment>250</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>4840</totalPrice>
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  <occupancy>1</occupancy>
  <description>Cat 3, Double *Ruby</description>
  <suppliment>1190</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>6616</totalPrice>
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  <categoryCode>RLE20103</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>2</occupancy>
  <description>Cat 3, Double *Ruby</description>
  <suppliment>850</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>5440</totalPrice>
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  <occupancy>1</occupancy>
  <description>Cat 4, Mini-Suite *Ruby</description>
  <suppliment>3758</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>9184</totalPrice>
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<cabin>
  <categoryCode>RLE20104</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>2</occupancy>
  <description>Cat 4, Mini-Suite *Ruby</description>
  <suppliment>1150</suppliment>
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  <occupancy>1</occupancy>
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  <suppliment>6542</suppliment>
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  <categoryCode>RLE20106</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>2</occupancy>
  <description>Cat 6, Suite *Diamond</description>
  <suppliment>2450</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>7040</totalPrice>
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<cabin>
  <categoryCode>RLE20106</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>3</occupancy>
  <description>Cat 6, Suite *Diamond</description>
  <suppliment>0</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>6335</totalPrice>
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  </date>

</departureDates>

</tour><tour>
  <sourceId>RLW2010</sourceId>
  <title>The Black Sea to Budapest</title>
  <summary>
    <![CDATA[Explore Europe&apos;s heart on Tauck&apos;s popular Danube cruise aboard ms Swiss Sapphire or ms Swiss Jewel between the Black Sea and Budapest, along what was once a highway for ancient civilizations. See dramatic castles, quaint towns, and centuries-old monasteries, and enjoy the cultural treasures of Budapest and Bucharest.
]]>
  </summary>
  <description>
    <![CDATA[Chart a leisurely course along the romantic lower Danube River aboard Tauck&apos;s luxury riverboats ms Swiss Sapphire or ms Swiss Jewel,
exploring rich cultural legacies. Cruise by medieval monasteries,
citadels, and villages, and through the Iron Gate of the Danube. Enjoy
a horse-drawn wagon ride, and see performances of folkloric dancing and
horsemanship skills. Examine fascinating museums of fine art,
traditional homesteads and folk art. Share local specialties with your
Bulgarian contemporaries at a special home-hosted lunch; choose to visit a former Romanian royal residence or the
isolated island monastery where the original Dracula is said to be entombed; and put your
feet in the Black Sea. This memorable lower Danube cruise travels
through Hungary, Croatia, Serbia, Bulgaria and Romania, with two nights
on land at 5-star hotels in Budapest and Bucharest.
]]>
  </description>
  <link>http://www.tauck.com/tours/europe-tours/central-and-eastern-europe-tours/danube-cruise-rlw-2010</link>
  <durationDays>12</durationDays>
  <durationDetails>12 days and 11 nights.</durationDetails>
  <tripType>ESCORTED_CRUISE</tripType>
  <brand>Riverboats</brand>
  <subbrand>Riverboat</subbrand>
  <gradeRating>ALL_AGES</gradeRating>
  <comfortRating>COMFORTABLE_MIXED</comfortRating>
  <startingLocation>Bucharest, Romania</startingLocation>
  <prices>
    <price currency="USD">4290</price>
    <priceDetails><![CDATA[All prices are per person in U.S. dollars. ]]></priceDetails>
  </prices>
  <images>
    <image isMain="true">http://tools.tauck.com/Files/ItineraryImages/ListImages/img_RLW2010_list.jpg</image>
    <image>http://tools.tauck.com/Files/ItineraryImages/altImages/RLW2010_alt1.jpg</image>
    <image>http://tools.tauck.com/Files/ItineraryImages/altImages/RLW2010_alt2.jpg</image>
    <image>http://tools.tauck.com/Files/ItineraryImages/altImages/RLW2010_alt3.jpg</image>
    <image isMap="true">http://tools.tauck.com/Files/ItineraryImages/MapImages/map_RLW2010.jpg</image>
  </images>
  <itinerary>
    <![CDATA[Westbound Itinerary

• = cruise day


1. Arrive Bucharest
Tour begins: 6:00 PM, Athénée Palace Hilton Bucharest. A transfer is included from the Bucharest Airport to the Athénée Palace Hilton Bucharest in the heart of the city; a living piece of Bucharest history since 1914, it was recently named Romania’s Leading Hotel. Please join us this evening for a welcome reception and dinner. Meals D

2. Peles Castle / Snagov Monastery
You have a choice of sightseeing today. Take a full-day excursion to Sinaia, Transylvania and a tour of fairy-tale Peles Castle (subject to weekly closures), built for the Romanian royal family in the 1880s; or choose a morning visit to isolated Snagov Monastery, reputed to be the burial place of the historical model for Dracula. Meals BL

• 3. Discover Bucharest / Embark Ship 
More sightseeing choices await you prior to embarking on your cruise later today. You can choose to explore historic Bucharest on a sightseeing tour including visits to the massive People’s Palace – the world’s second-largest building after the Pentagon – and the Romanian Athenaeum. Or drive to the popular seaside resort of Mamaia on Romania’s Black Sea coast, home to Europe’s only pure-white sand beaches, before boarding your riverboat at Cernavoda to begin your Danube River cruise. Meals BLD

• 4. Welcome to Bulgaria
Cruise to Ruse, Bulgaria, today for cultural excursions into nearby Bulgarian towns. Sample local cuisine at a memorable home-hosted private lunch in Arbanassi, where you’ll have a unique opportunity to meet and dine with your Bulgarian contemporaries. Travel to neighboring medieval Veliko Turnovo, with its ancient walled fortress and castle nestled atop three hills on the Yantra River. After rejoining your riverboat in Svishtov to continue your cruise this evening, you’ll be entertained by local Bulgarian performers aboard ship. Meals BLD

• 5. Cruising the Blue Danube / Vidin 
There’s something special about just “kicking back” and watching the scenic heartland of Eastern Europe unfold during a leisurely morning cruising the Danube, enjoying picture-perfect views of the passing landscapes. Attend an on-board lecture and demonstration on Iconography before joining us for a walking tour in Vidin on cobblestone streets, including a visit to the fort. Meals BLD

• 6. Full Day Cruising / Iron Gate
Enjoy a full day’s cruise along Bulgaria’s border with Romania, gliding through the Kazan Narrows and the Iron Gate of the Danube, where the river courses through a series of spectacular gorges. Savor great views of the Transylvanian Alps, and look for a monument to the 2nd-century Dacian King Decebalus carved into the Danube’s rocky bank; it is Europe’s tallest rock sculpture. Your riverboat crosses into Serbia this afternoon. Meals BLD

• 7. Belgrade, Serbia’s Capital
Awaken dockside in Belgrade, the cosmopolitan capital of modern Serbia at the confluence of the Danube and Sava rivers. The city’s roots date back to a Celtic settlement in the 3rd century BC. Today’s sightseeing in Belgrade includes visits to Tito’s Memorial, St. Sava Church, and Kalemegdan Fortress. You’ll also see Slavija Square, Parliament, City Hall and Republic Square. Listen to the music of Serbia when a folkloric group comes on board to entertain you. Meals BLD

• 8. Cruise to Croatia 
Arrive in Croatia for several excursions revealing historic and cultural influences that have shaped the country over the centuries. Witness the lasting effects of the 1990s war poignantly illustrated in the 10th-century city of Vukovar, once renowned for its elegant Baroque mansions. Meals BLD

• 9. Kalocsa and Solt, Hungary
Kalocsa, Hungary, is celebrated both for its paprika and its folk art; see the magnificent Library in the Baroque Bishop’s Palace, one of the finest in Europe. At the Equestrian Center, watch traditional Puszta horsemen demonstrate time-honored skills and traditions, and enjoy a horse-drawn wagon ride. Tonight, join us aboard the riverboat for the Captain’s farewell cocktail reception and dinner. Meals BLD

10. Disembark Riverboat / Explore Pest 
Disembark in Hungary’s capital, Budapest, divided by the Danube into the sections of Buda and Pest. Begin your discovery of Pest with a visit to the opulent 1884 neo-Renaissance State Opera House, commissioned by Austro-Hungarian Emperor Franz Joseph. Ironically, the Emperor himself attended only one performance here, but Empress Elisabeth, or “Sisi,” was a regular patron whose influence still lingers throughout the building. Continue exploring the city’s mix of architectural masterpieces and historic monuments, viewing City Park, Heroes’ Square, Central Market Hall, the neo-Gothic Parliament building, and tree-lined Andrassy Avenue. Dine tonight at a choice of local restaurants. Meals BD

11. Discover Buda 
A morning at leisure in one of Europe’s most fashionable cities precedes a guided walking tour of Buda highlighted by Castle Hill, featuring the 13th-century Royal Castle – which today houses several museums including the National Gallery – and Fishermen’s Bastion overlooking the Danube. Visit the 700-year-old Matthias Church (may be closed on some days due to services); spend the rest of the day as you wish in exhilarating Budapest. Meals B

12. Journey Home
Tour ends: Budapest, Hungary. A transfer is included from Le Méridien Budapest to Budapest’s Ferihegy Airport; allow 2½ hours for flight check-in. Meals B

]]>
  </itinerary>
  <itineraryDetails>
    <itineraryDay day="1">
  <title>Arrive Bucharest</title>
  <description>Tour begins: 6:00 PM, Ath&amp;#233;n&amp;#233;e Palace Hilton Bucharest.  A transfer is included from the Bucharest Airport to the Ath&amp;#233;n&amp;#233;e Palace Hilton Bucharest in the heart of the city; a living piece of Bucharest history since 1914, it was recently named Romania&apos;s Leading Hotel.  Please join us this evening for a welcome reception and dinner.  Meals D</description>
  <overnight>JW Marriott Bucharest Grand Hotel, Bucharest, Romania</overnight>
  <meals>Dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="2">
  <title>Peles Castle / Snagov Monastery</title>
  <description>You have a choice of sightseeing today.  Take a full&amp;#45;day excursion to Sinaia, Transylvania and a tour of fairy&amp;#45;tale Peles Castle (subject to weekly closures), built for the Romanian royal family in the 1880s; or choose a morning visit to isolated Snagov Monastery, reputed to be the burial place of the historical model for Dracula.  Meals BL</description>
  <overnight>JW Marriott Bucharest Grand Hotel,  Bucharest, Romania</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="3">
  <title>Discover Bucharest / Embark Ship </title>
  <description>More sightseeing choices await you prior to embarking on your cruise later today.  You can choose to explore historic Bucharest on a sightseeing tour including visits to the massive People&apos;s Palace &amp;#45; the world&apos;s second&amp;#45;largest building after the Pentagon &amp;#45; and the Romanian Athenaeum.  Or drive to the popular seaside resort of Mamaia on Romania&apos;s Black Sea coast, home to Europe&apos;s only pure&amp;#45;white sand beaches, before boarding your riverboat at Cernavoda to begin your Danube River cruise.  Meals BLD</description>
  <overnight>Cruising aboard the Riverboat</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="4">
  <title>Welcome to Bulgaria</title>
  <description>Cruise to Ruse, Bulgaria, today for cultural excursions into nearby Bulgarian towns.  Sample local cuisine at a memorable home&amp;#45;hosted private lunch in Arbanassi, where you&apos;ll have a unique opportunity to meet and dine with your Bulgarian contemporaries.  Travel to neighboring medieval Veliko Turnovo, with its ancient walled fortress and castle nestled atop three hills on the Yantra River.  After rejoining your riverboat in Svishtov to continue your cruise this evening, you&apos;ll be entertained by local Bulgarian performers aboard ship.  Meals BLD</description>
  <overnight>Cruising aboard the Riverboat</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="5">
  <title>Cruising the Blue Danube / Vidin </title>
  <description>There&apos;s something special about just “kicking back” and watching the scenic heartland of Eastern Europe unfold during a leisurely morning cruising the Danube, enjoying picture&amp;#45;perfect views of the passing landscapes.  Attend an on&amp;#45;board lecture and demonstration on Iconography before joining us for a walking tour in Vidin on cobblestone streets, including a visit to the fort.  Meals BLD</description>
  <overnight>Cruising aboard the Riverboat</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="6">
  <title>Full Day Cruising / Iron Gate</title>
  <description>Enjoy a full day&apos;s cruise along Bulgaria&apos;s border with Romania, gliding through the Kazan Narrows and the Iron Gate of the Danube, where the river courses through a series of spectacular gorges.  Savor great views of the Transylvanian Alps, and look for a monument to the 2nd&amp;#45;century Dacian King Decebalus carved into the Danube&apos;s rocky bank; it is Europe&apos;s tallest rock sculpture.  Your riverboat crosses into Serbia this afternoon.  Meals BLD</description>
  <overnight>Cruising aboard the Riverboat</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="7">
  <title>Belgrade, Serbia&apos;s Capital</title>
  <description>Awaken dockside in Belgrade, the cosmopolitan capital of modern Serbia at the confluence of the Danube and Sava rivers.  The city&apos;s roots date back to a Celtic settlement in the 3rd century BC.  Today&apos;s sightseeing in Belgrade includes visits to Tito&apos;s Memorial, St.  Sava Church, and Kalemegdan Fortress.  You&apos;ll also see Slavija Square, Parliament, City Hall and Republic Square.  Listen to the music of Serbia when a folkloric group comes on board to entertain you.  Meals BLD</description>
  <overnight>Cruising aboard the Riverboat</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="8">
  <title>Cruise to Croatia </title>
  <description>Arrive in Croatia for several excursions revealing historic and cultural influences that have shaped the country over the centuries.  Witness the lasting effects of the 1990s war poignantly illustrated in the 10th&amp;#45;century city of Vukovar, once renowned for its elegant Baroque mansions.  Meals BLD</description>
  <overnight>Cruising aboard the Riverboat</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="9">
  <title>Kalocsa and Solt, Hungary</title>
  <description>Kalocsa, Hungary, is celebrated both for its paprika and its folk art; see the magnificent Library in the Baroque Bishop&apos;s Palace, one of the finest in Europe.  At the Equestrian Center, watch traditional Puszta horsemen demonstrate time&amp;#45;honored skills and traditions, and enjoy a horse&amp;#45;drawn wagon ride.  Tonight, join us aboard the riverboat for the Captain&apos;s farewell cocktail reception and dinner.  Meals BLD</description>
  <overnight>Cruising aboard the Riverboat</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="10">
  <title>Disembark Riverboat / Explore Pest </title>
  <description>Disembark in Hungary&apos;s capital, Budapest, divided by the Danube into the sections of Buda and Pest.  Begin your discovery of Pest with a visit to the opulent 1884 neo&amp;#45;Renaissance State Opera House, commissioned by Austro&amp;#45;Hungarian Emperor Franz Joseph.  Ironically, the Emperor himself attended only one performance here, but Empress Elisabeth, or “Sisi,” was a regular patron whose influence still lingers throughout the building.  Continue exploring the city&apos;s mix of architectural masterpieces and historic monuments, viewing City Park, Heroes&apos; Square, Central Market Hall, the neo&amp;#45;Gothic Parliament building, and tree&amp;#45;lined Andrassy Avenue.  Dine tonight at a choice of local restaurants.  Meals BD</description>
  <overnight>Le Méridien Budapest, Hungary</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="11">
  <title>Discover Buda </title>
  <description>A morning at leisure in one of Europe&apos;s most fashionable cities precedes a guided walking tour of Buda highlighted by Castle Hill, featuring the 13th&amp;#45;century Royal Castle &amp;#45; which today houses several museums including the National Gallery &amp;#45; and Fishermen&apos;s Bastion overlooking the Danube.  Visit the 700&amp;#45;year&amp;#45;old Matthias Church (may be closed on some days due to services); spend the rest of the day as you wish in exhilarating Budapest.  Meals B</description>
  <overnight>Le Méridien Budapest, Hungary</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="12">
  <title>Journey Home</title>
  <description>Tour ends: Budapest, Hungary. A transfer is included from Le Méridien Budapest to Budapest’s Ferihegy Airport; allow 2½ hours for flight check-in.</description>
  <overnight></overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast</meals>
</itineraryDay>
  </itineraryDetails>
  <highlights> Romania ~ Bulgaria ~ Serbia ~ Croatia ~ Hungary
</highlights>
  <tauckValues>
    <value order="1">Gratuities to ship staff, drivers, local guides, Tauck Directors and Tauck Cruise Director</value><value order="2">All private Tauck shore excursions  $585 Value!</value><value order="3">Two nights each in Budapest and Bucharest at 5-star hotels, centrally located in the heart of the cities</value><value order="4">A chance to meet Bulgarian contemporaries and sample local cuisine at a home-hosted lunch in Arbanassi</value><value order="5">Visits in Romania to the popular Black Sea resort of Mamaia, and Bucharest&apos;s massive People&apos;s Palace</value><value order="6">A horse-drawn wagon ride to an equestrian center in Hungary, where Puszta horsemen and local craftsmen share time-honored cultural traditions</value><value order="7">Passage through the celebrated Iron Gate, a dramatic series of gorges and narrows on the Danube River</value><value order="8">Choice of Romanian excursions  to Peles Castle in Sinaia, or to the isolated Snagov Monastery, reputed burial place of Vlad Tepes, the original Dracula</value><value order="9">11 breakfasts, 8 lunches and 9 dinners  wine with dinner is included on the riverboat, and select meals will be in local restaurants</value><value order="10">Service charges, taxes, porterage, airport transfers and applicable fuel surcharges</value>
  </tauckValues>  
  <departureDates>
    <date>
    <day>8</day>
    <month>6</month>
    <year>2010</year>
    <singlesPrice>6986</singlesPrice>
    <doublesPrice>4990</doublesPrice>
    <triplesPrice>6695</triplesPrice>
    <quadsPrice>0</quadsPrice>
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  <categoryCode>RLW20101</categoryCode>
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  <description>Cat 1, Base Double *Emerald</description>
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</cabin>
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  <categoryCode>RLW20101</categoryCode>
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</cabin>
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  <categoryCode>RLW20102</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>1</occupancy>
  <description>Cat 2, Mini-Suite *Emerald</description>
  <suppliment>350</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>7336</totalPrice>
</cabin>
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  <categoryCode>RLW20102</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>2</occupancy>
  <description>Cat 2, Mini-Suite *Emerald</description>
  <suppliment>250</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>5240</totalPrice>
</cabin>
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  <categoryCode>RLW20103</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>1</occupancy>
  <description>Cat 3, Double *Ruby</description>
  <suppliment>1190</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>8176</totalPrice>
</cabin>
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  <categoryCode>RLW20103</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>2</occupancy>
  <description>Cat 3, Double *Ruby</description>
  <suppliment>850</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>5840</totalPrice>
</cabin>
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  <categoryCode>RLW20104</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>1</occupancy>
  <description>Cat 4, Mini-Suite *Ruby</description>
  <suppliment>2838</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>9824</totalPrice>
</cabin>
<cabin>
  <categoryCode>RLW20104</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>2</occupancy>
  <description>Cat 4, Mini-Suite *Ruby</description>
  <suppliment>1150</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>6140</totalPrice>
</cabin>
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  <categoryCode>RLW20105</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>1</occupancy>
  <description>Cat 5, Mini-Suite *Diamond</description>
  <suppliment>4472</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>11458</totalPrice>
</cabin>
<cabin>
  <categoryCode>RLW20105</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>2</occupancy>
  <description>Cat 5, Mini-Suite *Diamond</description>
  <suppliment>1750</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>6740</totalPrice>
</cabin>
<cabin>
  <categoryCode>RLW20106</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>1</occupancy>
  <description>Cat 6, Suite *Diamond</description>
  <suppliment>5662</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>12648</totalPrice>
</cabin>
<cabin>
  <categoryCode>RLW20106</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>2</occupancy>
  <description>Cat 6, Suite *Diamond</description>
  <suppliment>2450</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>7440</totalPrice>
</cabin></cabins>
  </date>
  <date>
    <day>4</day>
    <month>10</month>
    <year>2010</year>
    <singlesPrice>6706</singlesPrice>
    <doublesPrice>4790</doublesPrice>
    <triplesPrice>6515</triplesPrice>
    <quadsPrice>0</quadsPrice>
    <cabins>
<cabin>
  <categoryCode>RLW20101</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>1</occupancy>
  <description>Cat 1, Base Double *Emerald</description>
  <suppliment>0</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>6706</totalPrice>
</cabin>
<cabin>
  <categoryCode>RLW20101</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>2</occupancy>
  <description>Cat 1, Base Double *Emerald</description>
  <suppliment>0</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>4790</totalPrice>
</cabin>
<cabin>
  <categoryCode>RLW20102</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>1</occupancy>
  <description>Cat 2, Mini-Suite *Emerald</description>
  <suppliment>350</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>7056</totalPrice>
</cabin>
<cabin>
  <categoryCode>RLW20102</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>2</occupancy>
  <description>Cat 2, Mini-Suite *Emerald</description>
  <suppliment>250</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>5040</totalPrice>
</cabin>
<cabin>
  <categoryCode>RLW20103</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>1</occupancy>
  <description>Cat 3, Double *Ruby</description>
  <suppliment>1190</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>7896</totalPrice>
</cabin>
<cabin>
  <categoryCode>RLW20103</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>2</occupancy>
  <description>Cat 3, Double *Ruby</description>
  <suppliment>850</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>5640</totalPrice>
</cabin>
<cabin>
  <categoryCode>RLW20104</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>1</occupancy>
  <description>Cat 4, Mini-Suite *Ruby</description>
  <suppliment>2798</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>9504</totalPrice>
</cabin>
<cabin>
  <categoryCode>RLW20104</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>2</occupancy>
  <description>Cat 4, Mini-Suite *Ruby</description>
  <suppliment>1150</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>5940</totalPrice>
</cabin>
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  <categoryCode>RLW20105</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>1</occupancy>
  <description>Cat 5, Mini-Suite *Diamond</description>
  <suppliment>4412</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>11118</totalPrice>
</cabin>
<cabin>
  <categoryCode>RLW20105</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>2</occupancy>
  <description>Cat 5, Mini-Suite *Diamond</description>
  <suppliment>1750</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>6540</totalPrice>
</cabin>
<cabin>
  <categoryCode>RLW20106</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>1</occupancy>
  <description>Cat 6, Suite *Diamond</description>
  <suppliment>5602</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>12308</totalPrice>
</cabin>
<cabin>
  <categoryCode>RLW20106</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>2</occupancy>
  <description>Cat 6, Suite *Diamond</description>
  <suppliment>2450</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>7240</totalPrice>
</cabin>
<cabin>
  <categoryCode>RLW20106</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>3</occupancy>
  <description>Cat 6, Suite *Diamond</description>
  <suppliment>0</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>6515</totalPrice>
</cabin></cabins>
  </date>
  <date>
    <day>12</day>
    <month>10</month>
    <year>2010</year>
    <singlesPrice>5006</singlesPrice>
    <doublesPrice>4290</doublesPrice>
    <triplesPrice>6065</triplesPrice>
    <quadsPrice>0</quadsPrice>
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<cabin>
  <categoryCode>RLW20101</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>1</occupancy>
  <description>Cat 1, Base Double *Emerald</description>
  <suppliment>0</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>5006</totalPrice>
</cabin>
<cabin>
  <categoryCode>RLW20101</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>2</occupancy>
  <description>Cat 1, Base Double *Emerald</description>
  <suppliment>0</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>4290</totalPrice>
</cabin>
<cabin>
  <categoryCode>RLW20102</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>1</occupancy>
  <description>Cat 2, Mini-Suite *Emerald</description>
  <suppliment>1350</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>6356</totalPrice>
</cabin>
<cabin>
  <categoryCode>RLW20102</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>2</occupancy>
  <description>Cat 2, Mini-Suite *Emerald</description>
  <suppliment>250</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>4540</totalPrice>
</cabin>
<cabin>
  <categoryCode>RLW20103</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>1</occupancy>
  <description>Cat 3, Double *Ruby</description>
  <suppliment>1190</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>6196</totalPrice>
</cabin>
<cabin>
  <categoryCode>RLW20103</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>2</occupancy>
  <description>Cat 3, Double *Ruby</description>
  <suppliment>850</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>5140</totalPrice>
</cabin>
<cabin>
  <categoryCode>RLW20104</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>1</occupancy>
  <description>Cat 4, Mini-Suite *Ruby</description>
  <suppliment>3698</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>8704</totalPrice>
</cabin>
<cabin>
  <categoryCode>RLW20104</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>2</occupancy>
  <description>Cat 4, Mini-Suite *Ruby</description>
  <suppliment>1150</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>5440</totalPrice>
</cabin>
<cabin>
  <categoryCode>RLW20105</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>1</occupancy>
  <description>Cat 5, Mini-Suite *Diamond</description>
  <suppliment>5262</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>10268</totalPrice>
</cabin>
<cabin>
  <categoryCode>RLW20105</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>2</occupancy>
  <description>Cat 5, Mini-Suite *Diamond</description>
  <suppliment>1750</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>6040</totalPrice>
</cabin>
<cabin>
  <categoryCode>RLW20106</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>1</occupancy>
  <description>Cat 6, Suite *Diamond</description>
  <suppliment>6452</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>11458</totalPrice>
</cabin>
<cabin>
  <categoryCode>RLW20106</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>2</occupancy>
  <description>Cat 6, Suite *Diamond</description>
  <suppliment>2450</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>6740</totalPrice>
</cabin></cabins>
  </date>

</departureDates>

</tour><tour>
  <sourceId>RMN2010</sourceId>
  <title>The Rhine and Moselle</title>
  <summary>
    <![CDATA[Explore two of Europe&apos;s most scenic rivers on a 12-night cruise between Basel and Amsterdam aboard ms Swiss Emerald or ms Swiss Jewel. Glide along the Rhine in Holland, Germany, France and Switzerland; visit
Luxembourg; and discover the castles, wineries and market towns of the
Moselle Valley on one of Tauck&apos;s popular Rhine River tours.
]]>
  </summary>
  <description>
    <![CDATA[So many delights lie along the banks of the Rhine and Moselle rivers
– let us share them with you on a 12-night cruise between Basel and Amsterdam aboard the ms Swiss Emerald or ms Swiss Jewel. From
Switzerland
to the Netherlands, through Germany, France and Luxembourg,
you&apos;ll travel through engaging cities, charming towns and rural
landscapes. See the marriage of French and German culture in
Strasbourg; mingle with jet setters in the glamorous spa town of
Baden-Baden; enjoy a special lunch at a grand hotel overlooking Bonn
and the Rhine; and discover the secrets of the ancient university town
of Heidelberg, 2,000-year-old Boppard, and medieval masterpieces such
as Bernkastel, Trier and Cochem. Pay tribute to those who gave their
lives in the Battle of the Bulge at the Luxembourg American Cemetery
and Memorial, and get a true taste of Europe with regional culinary
specialties, locally grown wines and traditional songs and dances. It&apos;s
all waiting for you aboard Tauck&apos;s most enchanting of Moselle and Rhine
river tours!
]]>
  </description>
  <link>http://www.tauck.com/tours/europe-tours/central-and-eastern-europe-tours/rhine-river-tours-rmn-2010</link>
  <durationDays>13</durationDays>
  <durationDetails>13 days and 12 nights.</durationDetails>
  <tripType>ESCORTED_CRUISE</tripType>
  <brand>Riverboats</brand>
  <subbrand>Riverboat</subbrand>
  <gradeRating>ALL_AGES</gradeRating>
  <comfortRating>COMFORTABLE_MIXED</comfortRating>
  <startingLocation>Basel, Switzerland</startingLocation>
  <prices>
    <price currency="USD">4290</price>
    <priceDetails><![CDATA[All prices are per person in U.S. dollars. ]]></priceDetails>
  </prices>
  <images>
    <image isMain="true">http://tools.tauck.com/Files/ItineraryImages/ListImages/img_RMN2010_list.jpg</image>
    <image>http://tools.tauck.com/Files/ItineraryImages/altImages/RMN2010_alt1.jpg</image>
    <image>http://tools.tauck.com/Files/ItineraryImages/altImages/RMN2010_alt2.jpg</image>
    <image>http://tools.tauck.com/Files/ItineraryImages/altImages/RMN2010_alt3.jpg</image>
    <image isMap="true">http://tools.tauck.com/Files/ItineraryImages/MapImages/map_RMN2010.jpg</image>
  </images>
  <itinerary>
    <![CDATA[Northbound Itinerary

• = cruise day

• 1. Arrive Basel 
Tour begins: 4:00 PM, Basel, Switzerland. A transfer is included from Basel-Mulhouse Int’l Airport to your riverboat; check-in for all guests is at 4:00 PM. Join us for a welcome briefing this evening. Meals D

• 2. Old Town Basel
Spend the day in Basel, a key Swiss port for centuries. A guided sightseeing tour includes the red-painted Rathaus (city hall) in Old Town. Meet the crew at the Captain’s welcome dinner aboard the riverboat tonight. Meals BLD

• 3. Strasbourg, Crossroads of Europe
Wake up in northern France as your riverboat docks in Strasbourg, cosmopolitan home of today’s European Union. See the European Parliament buildings en route to La Petite France, surrounded by historic canals and medieval watchtowers. Visit the 11th-century Gothic Cathedral on a walking tour, and enjoy time on your own. Meals BLD

• 4. Elegant Baden-Baden
Explore the internationally acclaimed Black Forest spa town of Baden-Baden today. Evoking an era of 19th-century privilege, this elegant destination was a favorite playground for royals and celebrities; its famous mineral springs have been known to bathers since Roman times. Take a walking tour to visit its richly decorated Belle Èpoque Casino and explore Baden-Baden on your own; the town’s historic highlights include the remains of Roman baths. Meals BLD

• 5. Historic Heidelberg
Journey to Heidelberg, Germany’s oldest university town, on a full day excursion that includes a walking tour of Old Town’s Gothic walls, Renaissance and Baroque homes and palaces, and the partially restored Heidelberger Schloss (Heidelberg Castle). Enjoy lunch in a Heidelberg restaurant and continue on to Speyer. Meals BLD

• 6. Boppard and Koblenz
Learn fascinating insights about the legend of the Lorelei today as you cruise through the historic Middle Rhine Valley, designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its powerful influence on writers, artists and composers through the centuries. Arrive in Boppard, home to castles, Romanesque churches, and a rich 2,000-year legacy. Have a traditional lunch in the Old Monastery Cellar before returning to your riverboat, which continues on to Koblenz; enjoy local entertainment aboard ship tonight. Meals BLD

• 7. Fairy-Tale Landscapes of Cochem
Cruise through the fairy-tale landscapes of the Moselle Valley today en route to Cochem; exploring this area is like stepping into a history book about the Middle Ages. Tauck makes the past come alive during a tour of 1,000-year-old Reichsburg Castle, evoking images of Cinderella. A visit to a family-owned wine museum tempts your palate with some of the best wine in the region during a tasting! Meals BLD

• 8. Bernkastel / Luxembourg 
Dock in Bernkastel today, famous for its half-timbered houses. A day trip to the tiny Grand Duchy of Luxembourg includes a walking tour of the Old Town and a look inside the cathedral. Local guides wait to host your poignant afternoon visit to the Luxembourg American Cemetery and Memorial, final resting place of over 5,000 U.S. troops who fell in battle here during World War II. Return to Bernkastel for guided exploration of the sights that grace this delightful town; 700 years of history are chronicled in its medieval market square, Renaissance-era city hall, 14th-century church, and castle ruins overlooking the town. Meals BLD

• 9. Trier / Bernkastel
Depart for nearby Trier where a walking tour introduces you to one of Germany&apos;s oldest cities. You will have time to explore on your own before returning to Bernkastel for an afternoon at leisure. Meals BLD

• 10. Cultural Gems of Bonn
Explore Bonn today, the capital of the Federal Republic of Germany from 1949 to 1991 and seat of the reunited German government before it was moved to Berlin. Bonn boasts a rich political, intellectual and musical heritage; it was the birthplace of legendary composer Ludwig von Beethoven and home to musicians Robert and Clara Schumann. Following a sightseeing tour and a walk through Bonn’s Old Town, enjoy a special lunch in a grand hotel with commanding views of Bonn and the Rhine River; the hotel often hosts visiting dignitaries, heads of state and other guests of the German government. Meals BLD

• 11. Kröller-Müller Museum / Nijmegen
Wake up in Rees this morning, gateway for today&apos;s visit to De Hoge Veluwe National Park. Your excursion combines the natural treasures of the Netherlands’ largest nature reserve – including forests, drifting sand dunes, grassy plains and a variety of wildlife – with a visit to the renowned Kröller-Müller Museum, housing more than 275 works by Vincent van Gogh. Meet the riverboat in Nijmegen and explore this 2,000-year-old city as you please. Enjoy the Captain’s farewell reception aboard ship tonight. Meals BLD

• 12. Canals and Museums of Amsterdam
Experience a day full of cultural delights in Amsterdam, the Netherlands’ lively capital. Discover the city’s historic architecture on a sightseeing cruise along its concentric network of lovely, tree-lined 17th-century canals. Your canal boat ride ends at Museumplein where you will visit one of its famous museums. Return to the ship for lunch or spend time exploring Amsterdam on your own. Meals BLD

13. Disembark Ship / Journey Home
Tour Ends: Amsterdam. A transfer is included from the riverboat to Schiphol International Airport; allow a minimum of 2 1/2 hours for flight check-in. Meals B

]]>
  </itinerary>
  <itineraryDetails>
    <itineraryDay day="1">
  <title>Arrive Basel </title>
  <description>Tour begins: 4:00 PM, Basel, Switzerland.  A transfer is included from Basel&amp;#45;Mulhouse Int&apos;l Airport to your riverboat; check&amp;#45;in for all guests is at 4:00 PM.  Join us for a welcome briefing this evening.  Meals D</description>
  <overnight>Cruising aboard the Riverboat</overnight>
  <meals>Dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="2">
  <title>Old Town Basel</title>
  <description>Spend the day in Basel, a key Swiss port for centuries.  A guided sightseeing tour includes the red&amp;#45;painted Rathaus (city hall) in Old Town.  Meet the crew at the Captain&apos;s welcome dinner aboard the riverboat tonight.  Meals BLD</description>
  <overnight>Cruising aboard the Riverboat</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="3">
  <title>Strasbourg, Crossroads of Europe</title>
  <description>Wake up in northern France as your riverboat docks in Strasbourg, cosmopolitan home of today&apos;s European Union.  See the European Parliament buildings en route to La Petite France, surrounded by historic canals and medieval watchtowers.  Visit the 11th&amp;#45;century Gothic Cathedral on a walking tour, and enjoy time on your own.  Meals BLD</description>
  <overnight>Cruising aboard the Riverboat</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="4">
  <title>Elegant Baden&amp;#45;Baden</title>
  <description>Explore the internationally acclaimed Black Forest spa town of Baden&amp;#45;Baden today.  Evoking an era of 19th&amp;#45;century privilege, this elegant destination was a favorite playground for royals and celebrities; its famous mineral springs have been known to bathers since Roman times.  Take a walking tour to visit its richly decorated Belle &amp;#200;poque Casino and explore Baden&amp;#45;Baden on your own; the town&apos;s historic highlights include the remains of Roman baths.  Meals BLD</description>
  <overnight>Cruising aboard the Riverboat</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="5">
  <title>Historic Heidelberg</title>
  <description>Journey to Heidelberg, Germany&apos;s oldest university town, on a full day excursion that includes a walking tour of Old Town&apos;s Gothic walls, Renaissance and Baroque homes and palaces, and the partially restored Heidelberger Schloss (Heidelberg Castle).  Enjoy lunch in a Heidelberg restaurant and continue on to Speyer.  Meals BLD</description>
  <overnight>Cruising aboard the Riverboat</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="6">
  <title>Boppard and Koblenz</title>
  <description>Learn fascinating insights about the legend of the Lorelei today as you cruise through the historic Middle Rhine Valley, designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its powerful influence on writers, artists and composers through the centuries.  Arrive in Boppard, home to castles, Romanesque churches, and a rich 2,000&amp;#45;year legacy.  Have a traditional lunch in the Old Monastery Cellar before returning to your riverboat, which continues on to Koblenz; enjoy local entertainment aboard ship tonight.  Meals BLD</description>
  <overnight>Cruising aboard the Riverboat</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="7">
  <title>Fairy&amp;#45;Tale Landscapes of Cochem</title>
  <description>Cruise through the fairy&amp;#45;tale landscapes of the Moselle Valley today en route to Cochem; exploring this area is like stepping into a history book about the Middle Ages.  Tauck makes the past come alive during a tour of 1,000&amp;#45;year&amp;#45;old Reichsburg Castle, evoking images of Cinderella.  A visit to a family&amp;#45;owned wine museum tempts your palate with some of the best wine in the region during a tasting! Meals BLD</description>
  <overnight>Cruising aboard the Riverboat</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="8">
  <title>Bernkastel / Luxembourg </title>
  <description>Dock in Bernkastel today, famous for its half&amp;#45;timbered houses.  A day trip to the tiny Grand Duchy of Luxembourg includes a walking tour of the Old Town and a look inside the cathedral.  Local guides wait to host your poignant afternoon visit to the Luxembourg American Cemetery and Memorial, final resting place of over 5,000 U.S.  troops who fell in battle here during World War II.  Return to Bernkastel for guided exploration of the sights that grace this delightful town; 700 years of history are chronicled in its medieval market square, Renaissance&amp;#45;era city hall, 14th&amp;#45;century church, and castle ruins overlooking the town.  Meals BLD</description>
  <overnight>Cruising aboard the Riverboat</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="9">
  <title>Trier / Bernkastel</title>
  <description>Depart for nearby Trier where a walking tour introduces you to one of Germany&apos;s oldest cities.  You will have time to explore on your own before returning to Bernkastel for an afternoon at leisure.  Meals BLD</description>
  <overnight>Cruising aboard the Riverboat</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="10">
  <title>Cultural Gems of Bonn</title>
  <description>Explore Bonn today, the capital of the Federal Republic of Germany from 1949 to 1991 and seat of the reunited German government before it was moved to Berlin.  Bonn boasts a rich political, intellectual and musical heritage; it was the birthplace of legendary composer Ludwig von Beethoven and home to musicians Robert and Clara Schumann.  Following a sightseeing tour and a walk through Bonn&apos;s Old Town, enjoy a special lunch in a grand hotel with commanding views of Bonn and the Rhine River; the hotel often hosts visiting dignitaries, heads of state and other guests of the German government.  Meals BLD</description>
  <overnight>Cruising aboard the Riverboat</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="11">
  <title>Kr&amp;#246;ller&amp;#45;M&amp;#252;ller Museum / Nijmegen</title>
  <description>Wake up in Rees this morning, gateway for today&apos;s visit to De Hoge Veluwe National Park.  Your excursion combines the natural treasures of the Netherlands&apos; largest nature reserve &amp;#45; including forests, drifting sand dunes, grassy plains and a variety of wildlife &amp;#45; with a visit to the renowned Kr&amp;#246;ller&amp;#45;M&amp;#252;ller Museum, housing more than 275 works by Vincent van Gogh.  Meet the riverboat in Nijmegen and explore this 2,000&amp;#45;year&amp;#45;old city as you please.  Enjoy the Captain&apos;s farewell reception aboard ship tonight.  Meals BLD</description>
  <overnight>Cruising aboard the Riverboat</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="12">
  <title>Canals and Museums of Amsterdam</title>
  <description>Experience a day full of cultural delights in Amsterdam, the Netherlands&apos; lively capital.  Discover the city&apos;s historic architecture on a sightseeing cruise along its concentric network of lovely, tree&amp;#45;lined 17th&amp;#45;century canals.  Your canal boat ride ends at Museumplein where you will visit one of its famous museums.  Return to the ship for lunch or spend time exploring Amsterdam on your own.  Meals BLD</description>
  <overnight>Cruising aboard the Riverboat</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="13">
  <title>Disembark Ship / Journey Home</title>
  <description>Tour Ends: Amsterdam. A transfer is included from the riverboat to Schiphol International Airport; allow a minimum of 2 1/2 hours for flight check-in.</description>
  <overnight></overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast</meals>
</itineraryDay>
  </itineraryDetails>
  <highlights>		
Basel ~ Strasbourg ~ Baden-Baden ~ Heidelberg ~ Cochem ~ Luxembourg ~ Bonn ~ Nijmegen ~ Amsterdam 

</highlights>
  <tauckValues>
    <value order="1">Gratuities to ship staff, drivers, local guides, Tauck Directors and Tauck Cruise Director</value><value order="2">All private Tauck shore excursions  $576 Value!</value><value order="3">Insider tour of the Gothic-Renaissance Heidelberger Schloss, and lunch at a Heidelberg restaurant</value><value order="4">Wine tasting at a family-owned winery in Cochem</value><value order="5">A poignant visit to the American War Cemetery and Memorial in Luxembourg</value><value order="6">Excursion to De Hoge Veluwe National Park and the Kroller-Muller Museum to view world-famous art</value><value order="7">Scenic cruise along the canals of Amsterdam</value><value order="8">Breakfast &amp; dinner daily and all lunches. Select meals in local restaurants; wine with dinner on the riverboat</value><value order="9">Service charges, taxes, porterage, airport transfers and applicable fuel surcharges</value>
  </tauckValues>  
  <departureDates>
    <date>
    <day>3</day>
    <month>9</month>
    <year>2010</year>
    <singlesPrice>6706</singlesPrice>
    <doublesPrice>4790</doublesPrice>
    <triplesPrice>7375</triplesPrice>
    <quadsPrice>0</quadsPrice>
    <cabins>
<cabin>
  <categoryCode>RMN20101</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>1</occupancy>
  <description>Cat 1, Base Double *Emerald Deck</description>
  <suppliment>0</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>6706</totalPrice>
</cabin>
<cabin>
  <categoryCode>RMN20101</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>2</occupancy>
  <description>Cat 1, Base Double *Emerald Deck</description>
  <suppliment>0</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>4790</totalPrice>
</cabin>
<cabin>
  <categoryCode>RMN20102</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>1</occupancy>
  <description>Cat 2, Double *Emerald Deck</description>
  <suppliment>490</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>7196</totalPrice>
</cabin>
<cabin>
  <categoryCode>RMN20102</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>2</occupancy>
  <description>Cat 2, Double *Emerald Deck</description>
  <suppliment>350</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>5140</totalPrice>
</cabin>
<cabin>
  <categoryCode>RMN20103</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>1</occupancy>
  <description>Cat 3, Double *Ruby Deck</description>
  <suppliment>1610</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>8316</totalPrice>
</cabin>
<cabin>
  <categoryCode>RMN20103</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>2</occupancy>
  <description>Cat 3, Double *Ruby Deck</description>
  <suppliment>1150</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>5940</totalPrice>
</cabin>
<cabin>
  <categoryCode>RMN20104</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>1</occupancy>
  <description>Cat 4, Mini-Suite  *Ruby Deck</description>
  <suppliment>3494</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>10200</totalPrice>
</cabin>
<cabin>
  <categoryCode>RMN20104</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>2</occupancy>
  <description>Cat 4, Mini-Suite  *Ruby Deck</description>
  <suppliment>1585</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>6375</totalPrice>
</cabin>
<cabin>
  <categoryCode>RMN20105</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>1</occupancy>
  <description>Cat 5, Mini-Suite  *Diamond Deck</description>
  <suppliment>5526</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>12232</totalPrice>
</cabin>
<cabin>
  <categoryCode>RMN20105</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>2</occupancy>
  <description>Cat 5, Mini-Suite  *Diamond Deck</description>
  <suppliment>2405</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>7195</totalPrice>
</cabin>
<cabin>
  <categoryCode>RMN20106</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>1</occupancy>
  <description>Cat 6, Suite *Diamond Deck</description>
  <suppliment>7226</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>13932</totalPrice>
</cabin>
<cabin>
  <categoryCode>RMN20106</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>2</occupancy>
  <description>Cat 6, Suite *Diamond Deck</description>
  <suppliment>3405</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>8195</totalPrice>
</cabin></cabins>
  </date>

</departureDates>

</tour><tour>
  <sourceId>RMS2010</sourceId>
  <title>The Rhine and Moselle </title>
  <summary>
    <![CDATA[		
Explore two of Europe&apos;s most scenic rivers on a 12-night cruise between Amsterdam and Basel aboard ms Swiss Emerald or ms Swiss Jewel.  Glide along the Rhine in Holland, Germany, France and Switzerland; visit Luxembourg; and discover the castles, wineries and market towns of the Moselle Valley  one of Tauck&apos;s popular Rhine River cruises.
]]>
  </summary>
  <description>
    <![CDATA[
		So many delights lie along the banks of the Rhine and Moselle rivers
– let us share them with you on a 12-night cruise between Amsterdam and Basel aboard the ms Swiss Emerald or ms Swiss Jewel. From the Netherlands to Switzerland, through Germany, France and Luxembourg,
you&apos;ll travel through engaging cities, charming towns and rural
landscapes. See the marriage of French and German culture in
Strasbourg; mingle with jet setters in the glamorous spa town of
Baden-Baden; enjoy a special lunch at a grand hotel overlooking Bonn
and the Rhine; and discover the secrets of the ancient university town
of Heidelberg, 2,000-year-old Boppard, and medieval masterpieces such
as Bernkastel, Trier and Cochem. Pay tribute to those who gave their
lives in the Battle of the Bulge at the Luxembourg American Cemetery
and Memorial, and get a true taste of Europe with regional culinary
specialties, locally grown wines and traditional songs and dances. It&apos;s all waiting for you aboard Tauck&apos;s most enchanting of Moselle and Rhine river cruises!
]]>
  </description>
  <link>http://www.tauck.com/tours/europe-tours/central-and-eastern-europe-tours/rhine-river-cruises-rms-2010</link>
  <durationDays>13</durationDays>
  <durationDetails>13 days and 12 nights.</durationDetails>
  <tripType>ESCORTED_CRUISE</tripType>
  <brand>Riverboats</brand>
  <subbrand>Riverboat</subbrand>
  <gradeRating>ALL_AGES</gradeRating>
  <comfortRating>COMFORTABLE_MIXED</comfortRating>
  <startingLocation>Amsterdam, Netherlands</startingLocation>
  <prices>
    <price currency="USD">4290</price>
    <priceDetails><![CDATA[All prices are per person in U.S. dollars. ]]></priceDetails>
  </prices>
  <images>
    <image isMain="true">http://tools.tauck.com/Files/ItineraryImages/ListImages/img_RMS2010_list.jpg</image>
    <image>http://tools.tauck.com/Files/ItineraryImages/altImages/RMS2010_alt1.jpg</image>
    <image>http://tools.tauck.com/Files/ItineraryImages/altImages/RMS2010_alt2.jpg</image>
    <image>http://tools.tauck.com/Files/ItineraryImages/altImages/RMS2010_alt3.jpg</image>
    <image isMap="true">http://tools.tauck.com/Files/ItineraryImages/MapImages/map_RMS2010.jpg</image>
  </images>
  <itinerary>
    <![CDATA[Southbound Itinerary

• = cruise day

• 1. Arrive Amsterdam
Tour begins: 2:00 PM, Amsterdam. A transfer is included from Schiphol International Airport to your riverboat for the start of your cruise; check-in for all guests aboard the riverboat is 2:00 PM. Settle in to your cabin – you’ll dine aboard the riverboat tonight. Meals D

• 2. Museums and Canals of Amsterdam
What better way to begin your cruise along the inland waterways of Europe than in a city that rivals Venice for the number of canals that are found here. Join us this morning for an informative cruise along Amsterdam’s tree-lined 17th-century canals – there are 160 of them in this capital city, spanned by more than 1,200 bridges. Glide by gabled Golden Age merchants’ houses that speak volumes about Amsterdam’s storied past to the gardens, walkways and museums of Museumplein. Enjoy a guided visit to one of the city’s famed museums. Return to your riverboat for lunch or spend free time exploring the sights on your own. Have fun at the Captain’s welcome dinner tonight as your cruise gets underway for the journey to Nijmegen. Meals BLD

• 3. Nijmegen / Kröller-Müller Museum 
Venture into the countryside today for a visit to De Hoge Veluwe National Park. The largest nature reserve in the Netherlands entices with wildlife-rich forests, grasslands and sand dunes – and world-renowned art at the Kröller-Müller Museum, set within the park. See the sculpture garden featuring works by Rodin and others, and go inside to view an impressive collection of paintings by Vincent van Gogh. Meet your riverboat in Rees. Spend the remainder of the day enjoying the picturesque landscapes that enrich your riverboat journey along the River Rhine. Meals BLD

• 4. Cultural Gems of Bonn
Cruise to Bonn this morning, boasting a 2,000-year history dating back to Roman times. Renowned for its rich political, intellectual and musical heritage, this lovely city lays claim to being the birthplace of legendary composer Ludwig von Beethoven and home to musicians Robert and Clara Schumann. Sightseeing here includes a walk through Bonn’s Old Town, followed by a special luncheon experience in a grand hotel overlooking the River Rhine. Back aboard ship, your Tauck Directors share insights about life along Germany’s longest river and busiest waterway. Meals BLD

• 5. Fairy-Tale Landscapes of Cochem
Romantic legends and folk tales come to life as you cruise through the fairy-tale landscapes of the Moselle Valley to Cochem. Exploring Cochem, famous since the Romans first became enthralled with its scenic beauty, is like stepping into a history book. Tauck makes the past come alive during a walking tour and a visit to Reichsburg Castle; evoking images of Walt Disney’s Cinderella, the 1,000-year-old Gothic castle was destroyed by Louis XIV’s troops in 1689, but rebuilt in the 19th century. As a special treat, Tauck takes you to a family-owned winery in Cochem’s vineyard-covered hills for a tasting of some of the best locally harvested wines in the region. Meals BLD

• 6. Luxembourg  
Dock in Bernkastel for an excursion to the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg. En route, stop at the Luxembourg American Cemetery and Memorial, final resting place of over 5,000 U.S. troops from World War II. Drive through Luxembourg’s banking district before exploring its well-preserved old town on a walking tour that includes the Cathedral, the Palace of the Grand Duke, the Parliament and its centuries-old fortifications, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Local performers entertain aboard ship tonight sharing time-honored traditions. Meals BLD

• 7. Trier / Bernkastel Through the Ages
A morning visit takes you to Trier, Germany’s oldest town, nestled in a basin in the Moselle Valley. Its importance in ancient times is showcased by its impressive Roman ruins, found nowhere else north of the Alps. View the treasures of Bernkastel this afternoon on a walking tour through 700 years of history. See its famous half-timbered houses, its Renaissance-era city hall, its fortress-like 14th-century church, and the castle ruins that stand guard over the town. Cruise to historic Boppard. Meals BLD

• 8. Treasures of Boppard
Discover the charms of Boppard today, enticing with castles and Romanesque churches, and enjoy lunch in the Old Monastery Cellar. Learn about the legend of the Lorelei as you cruise through the historic Middle Rhine Valley, designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its powerful influence on writers, artists and composers. Meals BLD

• 9. Historic Heidelberg
Go ashore in Worms for an excursion to Heidelberg. A guided walking tour of the Old Town fascinates with insights about its medieval Gothic walls and gates, Renaissance buildings and 17th-century Baroque homes, and a ride on a funicular up to Heidelberger Schloss (Heidelberg Castle) rewards with panoramic views of the river and town. Meet your ship in Speyer after lunch at a local restaurant. Meals BLD

• 10. Elegant Baden-Baden
Disembark in Plittersdorf for a morning trip to the spa town of Baden-Baden. See the castle ruins, the Roman baths, and its richly decorated Belle Èpoque Casino. Meals BLD

• 11. Strasbourg, Crossroads of Europe
Your riverboat docks in Strasbourg, France, today. View the European Parliament buildings en route to La Petite France, surrounded by historic canals, medieval watchtowers and half-timbered houses. Visit the 11th-century cathedral and enjoy time to explore on your own. Meals BLD

• 12. Old Town Basel
A morning arrival in Basel is followed by a guided tour of  this quintessentially Swiss town, including the red-painted Rathaus (city hall) in Old Town. Please join us for the Captain’s farewell reception and dinner tonight. Meals BLD

13. Disembark Ship / Journey Home
Tour ends: Basel. Transfers to Basel-Mulhouse International Airport are included upon disembarking your riverboat this morning. Please allow a minimum of 2½ hours for flight 

]]>
  </itinerary>
  <itineraryDetails>
    <itineraryDay day="1">
  <title>Arrive Amsterdam</title>
  <description>Tour begins: 2:00 PM, Amsterdam.  A transfer is included from Schiphol International Airport to your riverboat for the start of your cruise; check&amp;#45;in for all guests aboard the riverboat is 2:00 PM.  Settle in to your cabin &amp;#45; you&apos;ll dine aboard the riverboat tonight.  Meals D</description>
  <overnight>Cruising aboard the Riverboat</overnight>
  <meals>Dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="2">
  <title>Museums and Canals of Amsterdam</title>
  <description>What better way to begin your cruise along the inland waterways of Europe than in a city that rivals Venice for the number of canals that are found here.  Join us this morning for an informative cruise along Amsterdam&apos;s tree&amp;#45;lined 17th&amp;#45;century canals &amp;#45; there are 160 of them in this capital city, spanned by more than 1,200 bridges.  Glide by gabled Golden Age merchants&apos; houses that speak volumes about Amsterdam&apos;s storied past to the gardens, walkways and museums of Museumplein.  Enjoy a guided visit to one of the city&apos;s famed museums.  Return to your riverboat for lunch or spend free time exploring the sights on your own.  Have fun at the Captain&apos;s welcome dinner tonight as your cruise gets underway for the journey to Nijmegen.  Meals BLD</description>
  <overnight>Cruising aboard the Riverboat</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="3">
  <title>Nijmegen / Kr&amp;#246;ller&amp;#45;M&amp;#252;ller Museum </title>
  <description>Venture into the countryside today for a visit to De Hoge Veluwe National Park.  The largest nature reserve in the Netherlands entices with wildlife&amp;#45;rich forests, grasslands and sand dunes &amp;#45; and world&amp;#45;renowned art at the Kr&amp;#246;ller&amp;#45;M&amp;#252;ller Museum, set within the park.  See the sculpture garden featuring works by Rodin and others, and go inside to view an impressive collection of paintings by Vincent van Gogh.  Meet your riverboat in Rees.  Spend the remainder of the day enjoying the picturesque landscapes that enrich your riverboat journey along the River Rhine.  Meals BLD</description>
  <overnight>Cruising aboard the Riverboat</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="4">
  <title>Cultural Gems of Bonn</title>
  <description>Cruise to Bonn this morning, boasting a 2,000&amp;#45;year history dating back to Roman times.  Renowned for its rich political, intellectual and musical heritage, this lovely city lays claim to being the birthplace of legendary composer Ludwig von Beethoven and home to musicians Robert and Clara Schumann.  Sightseeing here includes a walk through Bonn&apos;s Old Town, followed by a special luncheon experience in a grand hotel overlooking the River Rhine.  Back aboard ship, your Tauck Directors share insights about life along Germany&apos;s longest river and busiest waterway.  Meals BLD</description>
  <overnight>Cruising aboard the Riverboat</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="5">
  <title>Fairy&amp;#45;Tale Landscapes of Cochem</title>
  <description>Romantic legends and folk tales come to life as you cruise through the fairy&amp;#45;tale landscapes of the Moselle Valley to Cochem.  Exploring Cochem, famous since the Romans first became enthralled with its scenic beauty, is like stepping into a history book.  Tauck makes the past come alive during a walking tour and a visit to Reichsburg Castle; evoking images of Walt Disney&apos;s Cinderella, the 1,000&amp;#45;year&amp;#45;old Gothic castle was destroyed by Louis XIV&apos;s troops in 1689, but rebuilt in the 19th century.  As a special treat, Tauck takes you to a family&amp;#45;owned winery in Cochem&apos;s vineyard&amp;#45;covered hills for a tasting of some of the best locally harvested wines in the region.  Meals BLD</description>
  <overnight>Cruising aboard the Riverboat</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="6">
  <title>Luxembourg </title>
  <description>Dock in Bernkastel for an excursion to the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg.  En route, stop at the Luxembourg American Cemetery and Memorial, final resting place of over 5,000 U.S.  troops from World War II.  Drive through Luxembourg&apos;s banking district before exploring its well&amp;#45;preserved old town on a walking tour that includes the Cathedral, the Palace of the Grand Duke, the Parliament and its centuries&amp;#45;old fortifications, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.  Local performers entertain aboard ship tonight sharing time&amp;#45;honored traditions.  Meals BLD</description>
  <overnight>Cruising aboard the Riverboat</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="7">
  <title>Trier / Bernkastel Through the Ages</title>
  <description>A morning visit takes you to Trier, Germany&apos;s oldest town, nestled in a basin in the Moselle Valley.  Its importance in ancient times is showcased by its impressive Roman ruins, found nowhere else north of the Alps.  View the treasures of Bernkastel this afternoon on a walking tour through 700 years of history.  See its famous half&amp;#45;timbered houses, its Renaissance&amp;#45;era city hall, its fortress&amp;#45;like 14th&amp;#45;century church, and the castle ruins that stand guard over the town.  Cruise to historic Boppard.  Meals BLD</description>
  <overnight>Cruising aboard the Riverboat</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="8">
  <title>Treasures of Boppard</title>
  <description>Discover the charms of Boppard today, enticing with castles and Romanesque churches, and enjoy lunch in the Old Monastery Cellar.  Learn about the legend of the Lorelei as you cruise through the historic Middle Rhine Valley, designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its powerful influence on writers, artists and composers.  Meals BLD</description>
  <overnight>Cruising aboard the Riverboat</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="9">
  <title>Historic Heidelberg</title>
  <description>Go ashore in Worms for an excursion to Heidelberg.  A guided walking tour of the Old Town fascinates with insights about its medieval Gothic walls and gates, Renaissance buildings and 17th&amp;#45;century Baroque homes, and a ride on a funicular up to Heidelberger Schloss (Heidelberg Castle) rewards with panoramic views of the river and town.  Meet your ship in Speyer after lunch at a local restaurant.  Meals BLD</description>
  <overnight>Cruising aboard the Riverboat</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="10">
  <title>Elegant Baden&amp;#45;Baden</title>
  <description>Disembark in Plittersdorf for a morning trip to the spa town of Baden&amp;#45;Baden.  See the castle ruins, the Roman baths, and its richly decorated Belle &amp;#200;poque Casino.  Meals BLD</description>
  <overnight>Cruising aboard the Riverboat</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="11">
  <title>Strasbourg, Crossroads of Europe</title>
  <description>Your riverboat docks in Strasbourg, France, today.  View the European Parliament buildings en route to La Petite France, surrounded by historic canals, medieval watchtowers and half&amp;#45;timbered houses.  Visit the 11th&amp;#45;century cathedral and enjoy time to explore on your own.  Meals BLD</description>
  <overnight>Cruising aboard the Riverboat</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="12">
  <title>Old Town Basel</title>
  <description>A morning arrival in Basel is followed by a guided tour of this quintessentially Swiss town, including the red&amp;#45;painted Rathaus (city hall) in Old Town.  Please join us for the Captain&apos;s farewell reception and dinner tonight.  Meals BLD</description>
  <overnight>Cruising aboard the Riverboat</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="13">
  <title>Disembark Ship / Journey Home</title>
  <description>Tour ends: Basel. Transfers to Basel-Mulhouse International Airport are included upon disembarking your riverboat this morning. Please allow a minimum of 2½ hours for flight</description>
  <overnight></overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast</meals>
</itineraryDay>
  </itineraryDetails>
  <highlights>
		
				Amsterdam ~ Bonn ~ Cochem ~ Heidelberg ~ Baden-Baden ~ Strasbourg – Basel 
</highlights>
  <tauckValues>
    <value order="1">Gratuities to ship staff, drivers, local guides, Tauck Directors and Tauck Cruise Director</value><value order="2">All private Tauck shore excursions  $576 Value!</value><value order="3">Insider tour of the Gothic-Renaissance Heidelberger Schloss, and lunch at a Heidelberg restaurant</value><value order="4">Wine tasting at a family-owned winery in Cochem</value><value order="5">A poignant visit to the American War Cemetery and Memorial in Luxembourg</value><value order="6">Excursion to De Hoge Veluwe National Park and the Kroller-Muller Museum to view world-famous art</value><value order="7">Scenic cruise along the canals of Amsterdam</value><value order="8">Breakfast &amp; dinner daily and all lunches. Select meals in local restaurants; wine with dinner on the riverboat</value><value order="9">Service charges, taxes, porterage, airport transfers and applicable fuel surcharges</value>
  </tauckValues>  
  <departureDates>
    <date>
    <day>10</day>
    <month>6</month>
    <year>2010</year>
    <singlesPrice>6566</singlesPrice>
    <doublesPrice>4690</doublesPrice>
    <triplesPrice>7285</triplesPrice>
    <quadsPrice>0</quadsPrice>
    <cabins>
<cabin>
  <categoryCode>RMS20101</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>1</occupancy>
  <description>Cat 1, Base Double *Emerald Deck</description>
  <suppliment>0</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>6566</totalPrice>
</cabin>
<cabin>
  <categoryCode>RMS20101</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>2</occupancy>
  <description>Cat 1, Base Double *Emerald Deck</description>
  <suppliment>0</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>4690</totalPrice>
</cabin>
<cabin>
  <categoryCode>RMS20102</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>1</occupancy>
  <description>Cat 2, Double *Emerald Deck</description>
  <suppliment>490</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>7056</totalPrice>
</cabin>
<cabin>
  <categoryCode>RMS20102</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>2</occupancy>
  <description>Cat 2, Double *Emerald Deck</description>
  <suppliment>350</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>5040</totalPrice>
</cabin>
<cabin>
  <categoryCode>RMS20103</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>1</occupancy>
  <description>Cat 3, Double *Ruby Deck</description>
  <suppliment>1610</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>8176</totalPrice>
</cabin>
<cabin>
  <categoryCode>RMS20103</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>2</occupancy>
  <description>Cat 3, Double *Ruby Deck</description>
  <suppliment>1150</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>5840</totalPrice>
</cabin>
<cabin>
  <categoryCode>RMS20104</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>1</occupancy>
  <description>Cat 4, Mini-Suite  *Ruby Deck</description>
  <suppliment>3474</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>10040</totalPrice>
</cabin>
<cabin>
  <categoryCode>RMS20104</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>2</occupancy>
  <description>Cat 4, Mini-Suite  *Ruby Deck</description>
  <suppliment>1585</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>6275</totalPrice>
</cabin>
<cabin>
  <categoryCode>RMS20105</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>1</occupancy>
  <description>Cat 5, Mini-Suite *Diamond Deck</description>
  <suppliment>5496</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>12062</totalPrice>
</cabin>
<cabin>
  <categoryCode>RMS20105</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>2</occupancy>
  <description>Cat 5, Mini-Suite *Diamond Deck</description>
  <suppliment>2405</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>7095</totalPrice>
</cabin>
<cabin>
  <categoryCode>RMS20106</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>1</occupancy>
  <description>Cat 6, Suite *Diamond Deck</description>
  <suppliment>7196</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>13762</totalPrice>
</cabin>
<cabin>
  <categoryCode>RMS20106</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>2</occupancy>
  <description>Cat 6, Suite *Diamond Deck</description>
  <suppliment>3405</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>8095</totalPrice>
</cabin></cabins>
  </date>

</departureDates>

</tour><tour>
  <sourceId>RNE2010</sourceId>
  <title>Christmas Markets Along the Danube</title>
  <summary>
    <![CDATA[NEW for 2010! Discover all the magic of Austria&apos;s and Germany&apos;s traditional Christmas Markets on just two departures of this special December, 2010 Danube River cruise between Nürnberg and Vienna aboard ms Swiss Jewel... filled with exclusive Tauck extras, special yuletide events aboard and ashore, and great holiday cheer... with the Tauck Difference!]]>
  </summary>
  <description>
    <![CDATA[NEW for 2010! Tauck’s new Christmas Market river cruise along the Danube from Nürnberg to Vienna aboard ms Swiss Jewel offers a new approach to discovering the magic of the Christmas Markets in Germany and Austria… a 700-year holiday tradition! Instead of simply browsing your way through, you’ll enjoy Tauck’s signature sightseeing and exclusive events in many of the destinations you’ll visit... gain insights from the personal experiences of your local guides as they recall the Christmas Markets of their childhoods... and celebrate the holidays with special yuletide events on the ship and off!&amp;nbsp; Aboard ms Swiss Jewel, visit a traditional ski haus in the Lido Bar where you can sample glühwein and other seasonal goodies. Attend a holiday baking demonstration... a festive European Christmas dinner with all the fixings… and an unforgettable performance by members of the Regensburger Domspatzen boys’ choir! Ours is the only Christmas Market cruise that includes a visit to Munich’s Christmas Market, among the oldest and most magical in Europe... as well as an excursion to the Austrian &quot;Christmas village&quot; of Christkindl, where you can post a card with a one-of-a-kind holiday postmark. Watch delectable gingerbread being made at Café Simon in Passau... explore the Baroque architecture of 900-year-old Melk Abbey... enjoy a &quot;city of lights&quot; tour of old town Nürnberg in all its holiday finery… special Christmas lunches at Stiftskeller St. Peter in Salzburg and Café Residenz at Vienna’s Schönbrunn Palace… an exclusive tour of the Thurn und Taxis family’s Palace of St. Emmeram in Regensburg, with a visit to its private Christmas Market, and more!
]]>
  </description>
  <link>http://www.tauck.com/tours/europe-tours/central-and-eastern-europe-tours/christmas-markets-germany-rne-2010</link>
  <durationDays>8</durationDays>
  <durationDetails>8 days and 7 nights.</durationDetails>
  <tripType></tripType>
  <brand>Riverboats</brand>
  <subbrand></subbrand>
  <gradeRating>ALL_AGES</gradeRating>
  <comfortRating>COMFORTABLE_MIXED</comfortRating>
  <startingLocation>Nürnberg, Germany</startingLocation>
  <prices>
    <price currency="USD">1990</price>
    <priceDetails><![CDATA[All prices are per person in U.S. dollars. ]]></priceDetails>
  </prices>
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  <itinerary>
    <![CDATA[]]>
  </itinerary>
  <itineraryDetails>
    <itineraryDay day="1">
  <title>Arrive Nürnberg / Embark ms Swiss Jewel </title>
  <description>Nürnberg - On Nürnberg’s main market square opposite the Church of Our Lady sits the most famous Christmas Market in Germany, with its iconic, golden-haired Christmas Angel and charming Zwetchgenmannle (&quot;Plum People&quot;) – unique to Bavaria and made from dried plums and other fruits. By the time Christmas Eve rolls around, this &quot;Little Town from Wood and Cloth&quot; will have welcomed two million folks from around the globe, delighting them with its authentic ornaments, Christmas candles, cookies, tasty fruit loaves, tangy gingerbread, handmade toys and glühwein – including you!&amp;nbsp;
Cruise begins: 4:00 PM, Nürnberg, Germany. A transfer is included from Airport Nürnberg to the ms Swiss Jewel. Guests enjoying a pre-cruise stay at Le Méridien Grand Hotel Nürnberg will receive a transfer from the hotel to the riverboat. After boarding ms Swiss Jewel, hop aboard the complimentary shuttles running to and from the city center if you’d like to go into town to see the Weihnachtsmarkt in Old Town’s main market square. Join the Captain for his welcome dinner aboard the riverboat this evening prior to departing for a &quot;city of lights&quot; tour.</description>
  <overnight>Aboard ms Swiss Jewel</overnight>
  <meals>Dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="2">
  <title>Holiday magic in Munich</title>
  <description>Munich - Woodcarvings from Oberammergau... lebkuchen from Nürnberg... glassware from the Bavarian forest...&amp;nbsp; just a few of the must-have holiday treasures inviting you to Munich’s Weihnachtsmarkt – among the oldest and most magical in Europe, held today on the Marienplatz. It’s the largest of 20 or so diverse markets scattered throughout the city, from the Kripperlmarkt, specializing in nativity items, to the Tollwood ethnic festival on the Theresienwiese. Walk, eat, drink, sing, laugh, discover... it’s Christmastime in Munich... and ours is the only Christmas Market riverboat cruise that takes you there – in Tauck Style!&amp;nbsp;
From Nürnberg, set off on an excursion to Munich; lively is an apt description of the Bavarian capital city at any time of year, but at Christmas it’s especially so. The city seems to sparkle and the free-flowing glühwein puts an extra twinkle in the eyes of many visitors to the Christmas Market, which you&apos;ll explore with your local guide. After lunch, rejoin ms Swiss Jewel in Berching; those wishing to stay aboard the riverboat in the morning may choose to visit Nürnberg&apos;s famous Weihnactsmarkt today, or remain with the ship as it sails to Berching. Before the riverboat sets off for Regensburg after dinner tonight, you might want to treat yourself to a bon voyage libation in the ski haus in the Lido Bar, or in the Panorama Lounge.</description>
  <overnight>Aboard ms Swiss Jewel</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="3">
  <title>Regensburg’s medieval magic and a Christmas market at a palace</title>
  <description>Regensburg - Sausages and song are big in Regensburg, as your visit to its centuries-old Christkindlmarkt on the Neupfarrplatz will attest. Marketgoers feast on the city’s famed sausages – along with steamed dampfnudel, gingerbread, roast chestnuts and, naturally, glühwein from Bavarian claret – as they admire the work of glassblowers, chandlers and potters, and listen to the joyous strains of the acclaimed Regensburger Domspatzen boys’ choir – members of which will perform on your riverboat! The Thurn und Taxis family’s Palace of St. Emmeram is the setting for your exclusive tour and visit to its private Christmas Market.&amp;nbsp;
You’ll understand why Regensburg calls itself &quot;Europe’s best-preserved medieval city&quot; as you explore its Christmas Market set against a backdrop of centuries-old buildings during a walking tour and have some free time to enjoy the town on your own. After lunch aboard ms Swiss Jewel, it’s off for a private visit to an opulent palace that the founders of Europe&apos;s first large-scale postal system converted from a monastery for themselves. The Thurn und Taxis family&apos;s impressive Palace of St. Emmeram is said to have more rooms than Buckingham Palace, and hosts its very own Christmas Market in the intimate setting of the beautiful inner courtyard every year. On your exclusive visit, tour the palace and browse the fine private market, where you might interact with artisans displaying their wares.&amp;nbsp; Rumor has it that Her Highness Princess Gloria of Thurn und Taxis and her family often wander through, enjoying the market themselves.</description>
  <overnight>Aboard ms Swiss Jewel</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="4">
  <title>It’s beginning to smell a lot like Christmas</title>
  <description>Passau - Navigating the narrow lanes and archways of this Bavarian town on the Danube and Inn rivers is a pleasure any time of year – but never more so than now, when the Christmas Market transforms Passau’s historic Baroque center into a wonderland brimming with bratwurst, lebkuchen, glühwein and good cheer. At the center of it all is St. Stephen’s Cathedral, whose massive pipe organ – the largest in Europe – stars in concerts throughout the season. Your day in Passau includes a visit to Café Simon to see how they’ve been making their delicious gingerbread for four generations.&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;
Baking gingerbread… it’s one of the best aromas of Christmas! More than four generations of the Simon family have perfected the art of making gingerbread and you’ll see how it’s done during a demonstration at Passau’s famous Café Simon. After a walking tour of the city’s Weihnachtsmarkt, the afternoon is yours to explore as you please. Please join us back aboard the riverboat for a discovery briefing with your Tauck Director before dinner.</description>
  <overnight>Aboard ms Swiss Jewel</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="5">
  <title>&apos;Tis the season in Salzburg</title>
  <description>Salzburg / Linz - The angelic voices of choirs singing carols on Cathedral Square... the pealing bells of old Salzburger Dom, overlooking neat rows of lit-up booths fragrant with the aroma of roasted almonds and hot mulled wine... ornate Baroque domes, towers and rooftops tipped with snow in the heart of Old Town... the clatter of horse-drawn carriages over cobblestoned streets... sweet candy apples and marzipan... the warm laughter of families having the time of their lives... and music everywhere, in the city that gave us Mozart. The Christmas Markets of Salzburg... a true feast for the senses that continues with lunch at the historic Stiftskeller St. Peter and a visit to Linz’s Christkindlmarkt... the curving roofs of its stalls symbolizing the waves of the Danube.&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;
ms Swiss Jewel arrives in Linz, Austria, for a full-day excursion to Mozart’s magical hometown of Salzburg, with its Baroque jewel of a town center all dressed up in its holiday best. After exploring the Christkindlmarkt in this charming city, have lunch at Stiftskeller St. Peter, one of Salzburg’s most exclusive – and one of Europe&apos;s oldest – restaurants, located on the premises of historic St. Peter’s Abbey; even Salzburg&apos;s favorite son, W.A. Mozart, dined here! Following some free time, return to Linz for a different Christmas market experience… and, as you’ve learned, each town’s market has something all its own to offer.&amp;nbsp; Or, if you prefer, spend the entire day in Linz, enjoying its Christmas market, taking a walking tour, or just relaxing aboard the riverboat.</description>
  <overnight>Aboard ms Swiss Jewel</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="6">
  <title>Melk, a Christmas Promenade in Steyr and a village named Christkindl</title>
  <description>Christkindl / Steyr - The village of Christkindl, whose name translates to &quot;Christ child&quot; – with its Rococo church housing a wax figure of the infant Jesus – has attracted pilgrims for 300 years, and issues a one-of-a-kind Christmas postmark; mail a postcard from the post office of this winter fairyland! As blacksmiths and practitioners of other ancient trades demonstrate their skills at the Christmas Market on the Promenade in nearby Steyr, its miniature village and nativity scene featuring 19th-century stick puppets rekindle the spirit of holidays past.&amp;nbsp;
A visit to one of the world’s most famous monasteries, beautiful Baroque Melk Abbey, inspires with Baroque architecture and facades, soaring ceilings, magnificent frescoes, marble statues and artistic treasures. Black-robed Benedictine monks go about their simple daily lives here today, just as they have done for hundreds of years. Situated high above the town overlooking the river, the Abbey is home to a library housing a massive collection of medieval manuscripts, including a famous group of musical manuscripts. Be sure to take time to admire the views of the Danube from its terraces. Return to the riverboat for lunch before continuing on to Steyr, to visit the Christmas market that takes place on the town&apos;s lovely Promenade. Later, stroll the cobblestone streets of the tiny village actually named Christkindl in honor of the wax figure of the Christ child, said to have miraculous powers, that has drawn pilgrims to the village&apos;s church for centuries. You&apos;ll have an opportunity to stop at the village&apos;s equally famous post office for a special holiday postmark that you can only get here – it’s a unique souvenir of your holiday cruise along the Danube. After such a busy day, perhaps you’ll reflect on all you’ve seen and done over a pre-dinner cocktail back aboard ms Swiss Jewel.</description>
  <overnight>Aboard ms Swiss Jewel</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="7">
  <title> Making very merry in Vienna</title>
  <description>Vienna - Images of St. Nicholas – with his devilish nemesis, Krampus – Advent wreaths, twinkling lights, roasting chestnuts, sausages and kartoffelpuffer (potato cakes), hot glühwein and fruity punsch... all signs of Christmastime in Vienna! Many Christkindlmarkte big and small grace Austria’s capital at yuletide, and you’ll explore two of the major ones. Magic’s in the air at the Wiener Christkindlmarkt on the Rathausplatz in front of the city hall, Vienna’s oldest and largest Christmas market... live music, tastefully lit trees, holiday arts and crafts, tempting treats and smiling faces are everywhere. And at opulent Schönbrunn Palace, you’ll tour rooms that the Habsburgs lived in... have lunch at the Café Residenz... and browse through lovely hand-blown glass ornaments, red Viennese hearts and other treasures in the palace’s own Christmas Market... guaranteed to warm your heart.&amp;nbsp;
There’s no city more &quot;Imperial&quot; than Vienna, as you’ll see during a sightseeing tour this morning, and it seems even grander with Christmas decorations everywhere you look. You’ll get a glimpse of what &quot;happy Habsburg family holidays&quot; might have been like when you visit Schönbrunn Palace, followed by time at leisure to take in the palace&apos;s own Christmas market. A festive Christmas lunch at the elegant Café-Restaurant Residenz is followed by an afternoon at leisure to sample more of Vienna’s Christmas cheer and visit some of the city&apos;s Christmas markets; complimentary shuttles will run back and forth between the city and the riverboat. Perhaps you’ll share your memories of this wonderful week with your new friends in the Panorama Lounge or the Lido Bar&apos;s ski haus this evening.</description>
  <overnight>Aboard ms Swiss Jewel</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="8">
  <title>Homeward bound</title>
  <description>Your Christmas market riverboat cruise ends in Vienna. Fly home anytime. A transfer is included from ms Swiss Jewel to Vienna International Airport. Guests enjoying a post-cruise stay at Le Méridien Vienna will receive a transfer from the hotel to the airport. Please allow at least 3 hours for airport check-in. We wish you a safe and pleasant journey home.</description>
  <overnight></overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast</meals>
</itineraryDay>
  </itineraryDetails>
  <highlights></highlights>
  <tauckValues>
    
  </tauckValues>  
  
</tour><tour>
  <sourceId>RNW2010</sourceId>
  <title>Christmas Markets Along the Danube</title>
  <summary>
    <![CDATA[NEW for 2010! Discover all the magic of Austria&apos;s and Germany&apos;s traditional Christmas Markets on just two departures of this special December, 2010 Danube River cruise between Nürnberg and Vienna aboard ms Swiss Jewel... filled with exclusive Tauck extras, special yuletide events aboard and ashore, and great holiday cheer... with the Tauck Difference!]]>
  </summary>
  <description>
    <![CDATA[NEW for 2010! Tauck&apos;s new Christmas Market river cruise along the Danube from Vienna to Nürnberg aboard ms Swiss Jewel offers a new approach to discovering the magic of the Christmas Markets in Germany and Austria… a 700-year holiday tradition! Instead of simply browsing your way through, you’ll enjoy Tauck&apos;s signature sightseeing and exclusive events in many of the destinations you’ll visit... gain insights from the personal experiences of your local guides as they recall the Christmas Markets of their childhoods... and celebrate the holidays with special yuletide events on the ship and off!&amp;nbsp; Aboard ms Swiss Jewel, visit a traditional ski haus in the Lido Bar where you can sample glühwein and other seasonal goodies. Attend a holiday baking demonstration... a festive European Christmas dinner with all the fixings… and an unforgettable performance by members of the Regensburger Domspatzen boys’ choir! Ours is the only Christmas Market cruise that includes a visit to Munich’s Christmas Market, among the oldest and most magical in Europe... as well as an excursion to the Austrian &quot;Christmas village&quot; of Christkindl, where you can post a card with a one-of-a-kind holiday postmark. Watch delectable gingerbread being made at Café Simon in Passau... explore the Baroque architecture of 900-year-old Melk Abbey... enjoy a &quot;city of lights&quot; tour of old town Nürnberg in all its holiday finery… special Christmas lunches at Stiftskeller St. Peter in Salzburg and Café Residenz at Vienna’s Schönbrunn Palace… an exclusive tour of the Thurn und Taxis family’s Palace of St. Emmeram in Regensburg, with a visit to its private Christmas Market, and more!]]>
  </description>
  <link>http://www.tauck.com/tours/europe-tours/central-and-eastern-europe-tours/germany-christmas-markets-rnw-2010</link>
  <durationDays>8</durationDays>
  <durationDetails>8 days and 7 nights.</durationDetails>
  <tripType></tripType>
  <brand>Riverboats</brand>
  <subbrand></subbrand>
  <gradeRating>ALL_AGES</gradeRating>
  <comfortRating>COMFORTABLE_MIXED</comfortRating>
  <startingLocation>Vienna, Austria</startingLocation>
  <prices>
    <price currency="USD">1990</price>
    <priceDetails><![CDATA[All prices are per person in U.S. dollars. ]]></priceDetails>
  </prices>
  <images>
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  <itinerary>
    <![CDATA[]]>
  </itinerary>
  <itineraryDetails>
    <itineraryDay day="1">
  <title>Arrive Vienna / Embark ms Swiss Jewel</title>
  <description>Vienna - Images of St. Nicholas – with his devilish nemesis, Krampus – Advent wreaths, twinkling lights, roasting chestnuts, sausages and kartoffelpuffer (potato cakes), hot glühwein and fruity punsch... all signs of Christmastime in Vienna! Many Christkindlmarkte big and small grace Austria’s capital at yuletide, and you’ll explore two of the major ones. Magic’s in the air at the Wiener Christkindlmarkt on the Rathausplatz in front of the city hall, Vienna’s oldest and largest Christmas market... live music, tastefully lit trees, holiday arts and crafts, tempting treats and smiling faces are everywhere. And at opulent Schönbrunn Palace, you’ll tour rooms that the Habsburgs lived in... have lunch at the Café Residenz... and browse through lovely hand-blown glass ornaments, red Viennese hearts and other treasures in the palace’s own Christmas Market... guaranteed to warm your heart. 
Tour begins: 4:00 PM, Vienna, Austria. A transfer is included from Vienna International Airport to ms Swiss Jewel. Guests enjoying a pre-stay at Le Méridien Vienna will receive a transfer from the hotel to the riverboat. Welcome to old Vienna… bright with decorations and buzzing with holiday spirit! The magic begins right away with a walking tour of the Wiener Christkindlmarkt on the Rathausplatz – the city’s largest yuletide market – where you may feel like you’ve stepped into a snow globe as you’re surrounded by thousands of twinkling lights! Return to ms Swiss Jewel for the Captain’s welcome dinner this evening… followed by a &quot;city of lights&quot; tour of an illuminated Vienna tonight.</description>
  <overnight>Aboard ms Swiss Jewel</overnight>
  <meals>Dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="2">
  <title>Vienna for the holidays</title>
  <description>A morning of sightseeing in Austria’s capital – with its grand Imperial architecture decorated for the holidays – concludes at lavish Schönbrunn Palace, once the summer residence of the Habsburg emperors. Tour the State Apartments and visit the palace’s very own Christmas market, redolent with the aroma of holiday delicacies and glühwein, the traditional hot mulled wine that’s a seasonal favorite throughout Europe. After enjoying lunch in the palace’s Café Residenz, you may return to the riverboat or spend the rest of the day exploring more of Vienna as you please; shuttle service between the city and the ship is available throughout the afternoon. This evening, ms Swiss Jewel sets off on its 7-night Danube cruise, bound for Melk. Wish yourself bon voyage in the Panorama Lounge or the Ski Haus in the Lido Bar this evening.</description>
  <overnight>Aboard ms Swiss Jewel</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="3">
  <title>Melk, on Steyr&apos;s Promenade and the village of Christkindl</title>
  <description>Christkindl / Steyr - The village of Christkindl, whose name translates to &quot;Christ child&quot; – with its Rococo church housing a wax figure of the infant Jesus – has attracted pilgrims for 300 years, and issues a one-of-a-kind Christmas postmark; mail a postcard from the post office of this winter fairyland! As blacksmiths and practitioners of other ancient trades demonstrate their skills at the Christmas Market on the Promenade in nearby Steyr, its miniature village and nativity scene featuring 19th-century stick puppets rekindle the spirit of holidays past.&amp;nbsp;
Wake up in Melk this morning and set off to explore 900-year-old Melk Abbey, perched high on a bluff overlooking the town. This famous Benedictine monastery is best known for its frescoes and its magnificent library housing a sizeable collection of medieval manuscripts. Be sure to take a moment to admire the wonderful views of the Danube from the Abbey’s terrace. Return to the riverboat for lunch before departing for a little Austrian village actually named Christkindl... in honor of the wax figure of the Christ child, said to have miraculous powers, that has drawn pilgrims to the village church for centuries; you might want to send a letter home when you visit the village post office, equally famous for its one-of-a-kind holiday postmark. Then it’s off to Steyr to sample its Christmas market along the Promenade.</description>
  <overnight>Aboard ms Swiss Jewel</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="4">
  <title>A spectacular day in Salzburg</title>
  <description>Salzburg / Linz - The angelic voices of choirs singing carols on Cathedral Square... the pealing bells of old Salzburger Dom, overlooking neat rows of lit-up booths fragrant with the aroma of roasted almonds and hot mulled wine... ornate Baroque domes, towers and rooftops tipped with snow in the heart of Old Town... the clatter of horse-drawn carriages over cobblestoned streets... sweet candy apples and marzipan... the warm laughter of families having the time of their lives... and music everywhere, in the city that gave us Mozart. The Christmas Markets of Salzburg... a true feast for the senses that continues with lunch at the historic Stiftskeller St. Peter and a visit to Linz’s Christkindlmarkt... the curving roofs of its stalls symbolizing the waves of the Danube.&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;
Leave Linz after breakfast, bound for Mozart’s Salzburg to see the city all dressed up in its holiday best. After browsing through the Christmas market, have lunch at Stiftskeller St. Peter, located on the premises of St. Peter’s Abbey, one of Salzburg’s most exclusive – and one of Europe&apos;s oldest – restaurants, and then browse some more. You’ll be back in Linz in time to see what its Christkindlmarkt has to offer. Or, if you prefer, you can remain in Linz for the day, either taking a walking tour and visiting its Christmas market at your leisure, or relaxing aboard the riverboat. Dinner aboard ms Swiss Jewel tonight is preceded by an informative discovery briefing with your Tauck Directors.</description>
  <overnight>Aboard ms Swiss Jewel</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="5">
  <title>Passau’s pleasures and the aromas of the season</title>
  <description>Passau - Navigating the narrow lanes and archways of this Bavarian town on the Danube and Inn rivers is a pleasure any time of year – but never more so than now, when the Christmas Market transforms Passau’s historic Baroque center into a wonderland brimming with bratwurst, lebkuchen, glühwein and good cheer. At the center of it all is St. Stephen’s Cathedral, whose massive pipe organ – the largest in Europe – stars in concerts throughout the season. Your day in Passau includes a visit to Café Simon to see how they’ve been making their delicious gingerbread for four generations.&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;
Just the smell of gingerbread baking might be enough to start visions of Christmas dancing in your head. Learn everything you’ve ever wanted to know about this delectable holiday treat at special demonstration at the Café Simon this morning before a walking tour of this historic city and its Christmas market. Back aboard ms Swiss Jewel, spend a little time watching the passing scenery with commentary by a Tauck Director.</description>
  <overnight>Aboard ms Swiss Jewel</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="6">
  <title>Rewarding Regensburg... and the voices of angels</title>
  <description>Regensburg - Sausages and song are big in Regensburg, as your visit to its centuries-old Christkindlmarkt on the Neupfarrplatz will attest. Marketgoers feast on the city’s famed sausages – along with steamed dampfnudel dumplings, gingerbread, roast chestnuts and, naturally, glühwein from Bavarian claret – as they admire the work of glassblowers, chandlers and potters, and listen to the joyous strains of the acclaimed Regensburger Domspatzen boys’ choir – members of which will perform on your riverboat! The Thurn und Taxis family’s Palace of St. Emmeram is the setting for your exclusive tour and visit to its private Christmas Market.&amp;nbsp;
Regensburg calls itself &quot;Europe’s best-preserved medieval city&quot; and you’ll understand why as you walk through it this morning… there&apos;s history everywhere you look. After a walking tour of its festive Christmas market on the Neupfarrplatz, you’ll have some free time to admire its centuries-old architecture and original buildings. Following lunch aboard the riverboat, a treat awaits during your private visit to the grand Palace of St. Emmeram, residence of the princes of Thurn and Taxis, who founded the first large-scale postal system in Europe in the 15th century. They turned what had been a monastery into quite an impressive palace, which is said to have more rooms than Buckingham Palace. Today the palace is home to many treasures – including its own, more intimate Christmas market, which takes place in the beautiful inner courtyard each year; your exclusive visit includes a tour of the palace, and time to explore this private Christmas market and meet the artisans displaying their work. This evening holds a special holiday treat – a performance of seasonal music by members of Regensburg&apos;s own world-famous Regensburger Domspatzen boys’ choir... right aboard ms Swiss Jewel!</description>
  <overnight>Aboard ms Swiss Jewel</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="7">
  <title>Holiday cheer in Munich and Nürnberg</title>
  <description>Munich - Woodcarvings from Oberammergau... lebkuchen from Nürnberg... glassware from the Bavarian forest...&amp;nbsp; just a few of the must-have holiday treasures inviting you to Munich’s Weihnachtsmarkt – among the oldest and most magical in Europe, held today on the Marienplatz. It’s the largest of 20 or so diverse markets scattered throughout the city, from the Kripperlmarkt, specializing in nativity items, to the Tollwood ethnic festival on the Theresienwiese. Walk, eat, drink, sing, laugh, discover... it’s Christmastime in Munich... and ours is the only Christmas Market riverboat cruise that takes you there – in Tauck Style!&amp;nbsp;
Nürnberg - On Nürnberg’s main market square opposite the Church of Our Lady sits the most famous Christmas Market in Germany, with its iconic, golden-haired Christmas Angel and charming Zwetchgenmannle (&quot;Plum People&quot;) – unique to Bavaria and made from dried plums and other fruits. By the time Christmas Eve rolls around, this &quot;Little Town from Wood and Cloth&quot; will have welcomed two million folks from around the globe, delighting them with its authentic ornaments, Christmas candles, cookies, tasty fruit loaves, tangy gingerbread, handmade toys and glühwein – including you!&amp;nbsp;
ms Swiss Jewel arrives this morning in Berching, from which you&apos;ll depart on a shore excursion to the Bavarian capital of Munich; always a lively, happening place, it’s even more so at Christmastime. Check out its Weihnachtsmarkt, considered among the oldest and most magical in Europe, and enjoy lunch there before continuing on to Nürnberg, where you&apos;ll catch up with the riverboat in the late afternoon. Visit Nürnberg&apos;s own Christmas market – perhaps the most famous one on the continent – just as the lights are twinkling on, then join us back aboard ship for the Captain’s farewell dinner. Following a &quot;city lights&quot; walk through Nürnberg after dinner, return to the riverboat for the night – perhaps celebrating the wonderful experiences you’ve had with your new friends in the Ski Haus or the Panorama Lounge.</description>
  <overnight>Aboard ms Swiss Jewel</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="8">
  <title>Journey home</title>
  <description>Your cruise ends in Nürnberg. Fly home anytime. Transfers are provided from ms Swiss Jewel to Nürnberg Airport; those guests enjoying a post-stay at Le Méridien Nürnberg will receive a transfer from the hotel to the airport. Please allow at least three hours for airport check-in formalities. We wish you a safe and pleasant journey home.</description>
  <overnight></overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast</meals>
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  <description>Cat 6, Suite *Diamond</description>
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  <title>Strasbourg to Prague Serenade</title>
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    <![CDATA[		
New for 2010!
 The romance of idyllic Alsatian villages and vineyards in France, magnificent medieval cities and colorful Bavarian culture in Germany, and the magic of Prague... all waiting for you on the newest of Tauck&apos;s Europe river cruises on the Rhine, Main and Danube!
]]>
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  <description>
    <![CDATA[The newest of Tauck&apos;s memorable Europe river cruises invites you to experience the romance of idyllic villages in the lush wine country of France&apos;s Alsace region... explore the magnificent medieval cathedral cities and colorful culture of Bavaria... and discover a remarkable mix of old and new during two-night stays in the ancient cities of Strasbourg and Prague! An
extraordinary weeklong cruise aboard the state-of-the-art ms Swiss Sapphire winds its way past castles, vineyards and historic villages along the Rhine, Main and Danube rivers in the gracious style once reserved for the nobility. Walk in the footsteps
of the rich and famous of long ago as you visit the glamorous spa
town of Baden-Baden and its elegant Casino, enjoy an exclusive private tour of the Strahov Monastery libraries in Prague, and discover what royal life was
like in palaces like the Heidelberger Schloss, Würzberg’s imposing
Residenz, and Prague Castle.
Feel history come alive as you explore medieval towns and cities such
as Obernai, Miltenberg, Regensburg and Bamberg. Savor an authentic
taste of the region during meals aboard ship and at specially selected
restaurants ashore during your riverboat cruise; and sample fine wines
of the Alsace and the beers
of Germany’s Franconia region during tours and tastings. All this and more awaits on Tauck&apos;s new-for-2010 Strasbourg to Prague Serenade!
]]>
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  <link>http://www.tauck.com/tours/europe-tours/central-and-eastern-europe-tours/europe-river-cruises-rse-2010</link>
  <durationDays>12</durationDays>
  <durationDetails>12 days and 11 nights.</durationDetails>
  <tripType>ESCORTED_CRUISE</tripType>
  <brand>Riverboats</brand>
  <subbrand>Riverboat</subbrand>
  <gradeRating>ALL_AGES</gradeRating>
  <comfortRating>COMFORTABLE_MIXED</comfortRating>
  <startingLocation>Strasbourg, France</startingLocation>
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    <price currency="USD">3990</price>
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  <title>Arrive Strasbourg</title>
  <description>Tour begins: 6:00 PM, Sofitel Strasbourg Grande Ile. Welcome to Strasbourg, France, cosmopolitan home of the European Union on the Rhine River. We invite you to join us this evening for a welcome reception and dinner.</description>
  <overnight>Sofitel Strasbourg Grande Île, Strasbourg, France</overnight>
  <meals>Dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="2">
  <title>Strasbourg, Crossroads of Europe</title>
  <description>Principal city of the Alsace region and site of the Council of Europe and the European Parliament, Strasbourg has seen a lot of history over the centuries. Its rich mix of architecture ranges from Gothic to Renaissance to Baroque to Art Nouveau to modern, like the European Parliament buildings you’ll pass en route to a walking tour of La Petite France in the Grande Ile district – a UNESCO World Heritage Site with canals, medieval watchtowers and half-timbered houses. Visit the 11th-century Cathedral of Our Lady; towering over the city, it was the world’s tallest building for 200 years, and can be seen from the Black Forest across the Rhine. Spend the rest of the day exploring on your own.</description>
  <overnight>Sofitel Strasbourg Grande Île, Strasbourg, France</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="3">
  <title>The Route des Vins / • Embark Cruise</title>
  <description>Wind your way along the renowned Route des Vins d’Alsace (Alsatian Wine Road) today, passing through enchanting little villages of the Alsace region, one of France’s most important wine-growing areas. Sample the wares of local vintners during lunch at a former manor house in Obernai before returning to Strasbourg to board ms Swiss Sapphire for the start of your Rhine and Main river cruise – which you’ll kick off in style with tonight’s festive welcome reception hosted by the Captain.</description>
  <overnight>Aboard ms Swiss Sapphire</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="4">
  <title>Baden-Baden, Elegant Spa Town</title>
  <description>Baden-Baden’s famous springs have been known to bathers since Roman times; in fact, the German word “baden” translates to “bathe.” Visit this acclaimed Black Forest spa town today, discovering castle ruins and the remains of its Roman baths on a walking tour. The 19th-century Russian novelist Fyodor Dostoevsky penned The Gambler while gambling compulsively at the sumptuous Baden-Baden Casino, which a more recent patron – German-born screen icon Marlene Dietrich – called “the most beautiful casino in the world.” Check out this 250-year-old Belle Èpoque treasure before returning to the riverboat for this evening’s cruise along the legendary River Rhine.</description>
  <overnight>Aboard ms Swiss Sapphire</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="5">
  <title>Historic Heidelberg</title>
  <description>Head out for a full day’s excursion to Heidelberg, home to Germany’s oldest university. A walking tour reveals Old Town’s delightful mix of medieval Gothic walls and gates, Renaissance and 17th-century Baroque homes and palaces; take a funicular ride up to romantic Heidelberger Schloss, a prime example of a Gothic-Renaissance castle. Enjoy lunch in a local Heidelberg restaurant and explore on your own before rejoining the riverboat in Mainz to continue your cruise on the River Main.</description>
  <overnight>Aboard ms Swiss Sapphire</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner </meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="6">
  <title>Miltenberg / Bavarian Nights</title>
  <description>You’ll have time to enjoy your riverboat’s entertainment options – from Wii games to video-on-demand in select cabin categories to organized activities with your Tauck Cruise Director – as you glide past the River Main’s lush, romantic landscapes to Miltenberg. Spend the afternoon exploring this old Bavarian town with its hilltop castle, medieval gates and market square, half-timbered houses and traces of its Roman roots. A Bavarian-themed dinner entertains aboard your riverboat this evening.</description>
  <overnight>Aboard ms Swiss Sapphire</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner </meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="7">
  <title>Würzburg and the Residenz</title>
  <description>Würzburg has a long and storied history; its cathedral occupies a site consecrated by Charlemagne himself in the 8th century. But much of the architecture you’ll see as you tour this cathedral town was reconstructed by citizens – most of them women (dubbed Trümmerfrauen, or “rubble women”) – after 90% of the city was destroyed in World War II. This includes the Alte Mainbrücke and the Residenz, a beautiful palace complex you’ll visit this afternoon and return to tonight for dinner in the wine cellar featuring a wine tasting and entertainment.</description>
  <overnight>Aboard ms Swiss Sapphire</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="8">
  <title>Along the Main / Bamberg</title>
  <description>As you cruise the Main, you can listen to commentary by your Tauck Directors throughout the ship or in your cabin. Dock in Hassfurt for an excursion to charming Bamberg, set atop seven hills. Take a walking tour of Old Town, see its 13th-century cathedral, and visit a historic Bamberg brewery for a brewery tour and tasting.</description>
  <overnight>Aboard ms Swiss Sapphire</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="9">
  <title>Main-Danube Canal / Nürnberg</title>
  <description>Learn all about the Main-Danube Canal from a local expert today as your riverboat transits this engineering marvel, which fulfilled the dream of creating a link between the North Sea and the Black Sea when it was completed in the 1990s. Arrive mid-morning in Nürnberg, where a morning orientation tour reveals the must-see sites of this influential Bavarian city, which was the center of the German Renaissance, and played a key role in World War II and its aftermath. After lunch with entertainment at a local restaurant, discover Nürnberg’s walled medieval heart on a walking tour prior to returning to the riverboat for the Captain’s farewell reception and dinner tonight.</description>
  <overnight>Aboard ms Swiss Sapphire</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="10">
  <title>Disembark Regensburg / On to Prague</title>
  <description>Arrive at a site on the Danube that the Roman legions who camped here 2,000 years ago called Castra Regina; today, Regensburg is Germany’s largest surviving medieval city, with some 1,400 historic buildings. Disembark and discover its rich heritage – including Germany’s oldest stone bridge and Gothic Dom St. Peter – on a guided walking tour with your local guide. You might try Regensburg’s renowned Bavarian sausage for lunch before setting off for Prague and a two-night stay at the Hilton Prague Old Town; enjoy dinner at a choice of local restaurants tonight.</description>
  <overnight>Hilton Prague Old Town, Prague, Czech Republic</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="11">
  <title>Past &amp; Present in Beautiful Prague</title>
  <description>Prague, which means “crossroads,” is a place where ancient and modern converge; the Czech capital and “city of a hundred spires” boasts soaring cathedrals and grand palaces dating back to the 14th-century. Explore the Hradcany (Castle) district, where 1,000-year-old Prague Castle is surrounded by palaces, gardens, museums and monasteries, with a local guide. Visit the Cathedral of St. Vitus, and enjoy a memorable Tauck Exclusive, a private tour of the grand libraries of Strahov Monastery. Spend time as you please, or join us on a walking tour through ethereal Old Town; see the famous Astronomical Clock, Tyn Church, iconic Charles Bridge and Wenceslas Square.</description>
  <overnight>Hilton Prague Old Town, Prague, Czech Republic</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="12">
  <title>Journey Home</title>
  <description>Tour ends: Prague, Czech Republic. A transfer is included from the Hilton Prague Old Town to Ruzyne Airport; allow a minimum of 3 hours for flight check-in.</description>
  <overnight></overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast</meals>
</itineraryDay>
  </itineraryDetails>
  <highlights></highlights>
  <tauckValues>
    <value order="1">Gratuities to ship staff, drivers, local guides, Tauck Directors and Tauck Cruise Director</value><value order="2">All private Tauck shore excursions  $740 Value!</value><value order="3">Two nights each in Strasbourg and Prague at five-star hotels in the heart of the cities</value><value order="4">Tauck Exclusive  A private tour of the beautiful Baroque libraries of Strahov Monastery in Prague</value><value order="5">Lunch at a former manor house in Obernai with local wine from the romantic Alsace region</value><value order="6">A special dinner, entertainment, and wine tasting in the wine cellars of Wurzburgs famous Residenz</value><value order="7">Tour and tasting at a historic Bamberg brewery</value><value order="8">A visit to the opulent Baden-Baden Casino</value><value order="9">A transit of the Main-Danube Canal, enhanced by an on-board lecture by a local expert</value><value order="10">Evenings of traditional entertainment aboard the riverboat, including a Bavarian-themed dinner</value><value order="11">11 breakfasts, 8 lunches and 9 dinners  wine with dinner is included aboard the riverboat, and select meals will be in local restaurants</value><value order="12">Service charges, taxes, porterage, airport transfers and applicable fuel surcharges</value>
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    <day>10</day>
    <month>8</month>
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  <occupancy>1</occupancy>
  <description>Cat 2, Mini-Suite *Emerald</description>
  <suppliment>350</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>5936</totalPrice>
</cabin>
<cabin>
  <categoryCode>RSE20102</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>2</occupancy>
  <description>Cat 2, Mini-Suite *Emerald</description>
  <suppliment>250</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>4240</totalPrice>
</cabin>
<cabin>
  <categoryCode>RSE20103</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>1</occupancy>
  <description>Cat 3, Double *Ruby</description>
  <suppliment>1190</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>6776</totalPrice>
</cabin>
<cabin>
  <categoryCode>RSE20103</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>2</occupancy>
  <description>Cat 3, Double *Ruby</description>
  <suppliment>850</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>4840</totalPrice>
</cabin>
<cabin>
  <categoryCode>RSE20104</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>1</occupancy>
  <description>Cat 4, Mini-Suite *Ruby</description>
  <suppliment>2638</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>8224</totalPrice>
</cabin>
<cabin>
  <categoryCode>RSE20104</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>2</occupancy>
  <description>Cat 4, Mini-Suite *Ruby</description>
  <suppliment>1150</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>5140</totalPrice>
</cabin>
<cabin>
  <categoryCode>RSE20105</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>1</occupancy>
  <description>Cat 5, Mini-Suite *Diamond</description>
  <suppliment>4172</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>9758</totalPrice>
</cabin>
<cabin>
  <categoryCode>RSE20105</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>2</occupancy>
  <description>Cat 5, Mini-Suite *Diamond</description>
  <suppliment>1750</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>5740</totalPrice>
</cabin>
<cabin>
  <categoryCode>RSE20106</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>1</occupancy>
  <description>Cat 6, Suite *Diamond</description>
  <suppliment>5362</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>10948</totalPrice>
</cabin>
<cabin>
  <categoryCode>RSE20106</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>2</occupancy>
  <description>Cat 6, Suite *Diamond</description>
  <suppliment>2450</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>6440</totalPrice>
</cabin></cabins>
  </date>

</departureDates>

</tour><tour>
  <sourceId>RSW2010</sourceId>
  <title>Prague to Strasbourg Serenade</title>
  <summary>
    <![CDATA[		
New for 2010!
 The romance of idyllic Alsatian villages and vineyards in France,
magnificent medieval cities and colorful Bavarian culture in Germany,
and the magic of Prague... all waiting for you on Tauck&apos;s newest Europe river cruise along the Rhine, Main and Danube!
]]>
  </summary>
  <description>
    <![CDATA[Tauck&apos;s newest Europe river cruise invites you to
experience the romance of idyllic villages in the lush wine country of
France&apos;s Alsace region... explore the magnificent medieval cathedral
cities and colorful culture of Bavaria... and discover a remarkable mix
of old and new during two-night stays in the ancient cities of
Prague and Strasbourg! An
extraordinary weeklong cruise aboard the state-of-the-art ms Swiss Sapphire
winds its way past castles, vineyards and historic villages along the
Rhine, Main and Danube rivers in the gracious style once reserved for
the nobility. Walk in the footsteps
of the rich and famous of long ago as you visit the glamorous spa
town of Baden-Baden and its elegant Casino, enjoy an exclusive private
tour of the Strahov Monastery libraries in Prague, and discover what
royal life was
like in palaces like the Heidelberger Schloss, Würzberg’s imposing
Residenz, and Prague Castle.
Feel history come alive as you explore medieval towns and cities such
as Obernai, Miltenberg, Regensburg and Bamberg. Savor an authentic
taste of the region during meals aboard ship and at specially selected
restaurants ashore during your riverboat cruise; and sample fine wines
of the Alsace and the beers
of Germany’s Franconia region during tours and tastings. All this and
more awaits on Tauck&apos;s new-for-2010 Prague to Strasbourg Serenade!
]]>
  </description>
  <link>http://www.tauck.com/tours/europe-tours/central-and-eastern-europe-tours/europe-river-cruise-rsw-2010</link>
  <durationDays>12</durationDays>
  <durationDetails>12 days and 11 nights.</durationDetails>
  <tripType>ESCORTED_CRUISE</tripType>
  <brand>Riverboats</brand>
  <subbrand>Riverboat</subbrand>
  <gradeRating>ALL_AGES</gradeRating>
  <comfortRating>COMFORTABLE_MIXED</comfortRating>
  <startingLocation>Prague, Czech Republic</startingLocation>
  <prices>
    <price currency="USD">3990</price>
    <priceDetails><![CDATA[All prices are per person in U.S. dollars. ]]></priceDetails>
  </prices>
  <images>
    <image isMain="true">http://tools.tauck.com/Files/ItineraryImages/ListImages/img_RSW2010_list.jpg</image>
    <image>http://tools.tauck.com/Files/ItineraryImages/altImages/RSW2010_alt1.jpg</image>
    <image>http://tools.tauck.com/Files/ItineraryImages/altImages/RSW2010_alt2.jpg</image>
    <image>http://tools.tauck.com/Files/ItineraryImages/altImages/RSW2010_alt3.jpg</image>
    <image isMap="true">http://tools.tauck.com/Files/ItineraryImages/MapImages/map_RSW2010.jpg</image>
  </images>
  <itinerary>
    <![CDATA[]]>
  </itinerary>
  <itineraryDetails>
    <itineraryDay day="1">
  <title>Arrive Prague</title>
  <description>Tour begins: 6:00 PM, Hilton Prague Old Town. Join us this evening for a welcome reception, tour and dinner at Lobkowicz Palace in Prague Castle.</description>
  <overnight>Hilton Prague Old Town, Prague, Czech Republic </overnight>
  <meals>Dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="2">
  <title>Past &amp; Present in Prague</title>
  <description>Explore the Hradcany (Castle) district with a local guide; 1,000-year-old Prague Castle is surrounded by palaces, gardens, and monasteries. Visit the Cathedral of St. Vitus, and enjoy a Tauck Exclusive: a private tour of the beautiful Baroque libraries of Strahov Monastery. Take a walking tour of Old Town or spend the afternoon as you please in Prague.</description>
  <overnight>Hilton Prague Old Town, Prague, Czech Republic</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="3">
  <title>Regensburg / Embark your riverboat</title>
  <description>Regensburg is Germany’s largest surviving medieval city, with some 1,400 historic buildings. Discover its rich heritage, including Germany’s oldest stone bridge and Gothic Dom St. Peter, on a guided walking tour with your local guide. You might try Regensburg’s renowned Bavarian sausage for lunch before boarding ms Swiss Sapphire to begin your cruise – which you’ll kick off in style with a welcome reception hosted by your riverboat Captain.</description>
  <overnight>Aboard ms Swiss Sapphire</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="4">
  <title>Nürnberg</title>
  <description>The Main-Danube Canal fulfilled the dream of creating a link between the North Sea and the Black Sea when it was completed in the 1990s. Learn all about it from a local expert today as your riverboat transits this engineering marvel. Arrive in Nürnberg, which was the center of the German Renaissance and played a key role in World War II and its aftermath. After lunch with entertainment at a local restaurant, discover Nürnberg’s walled medieval heart on a walking tour.</description>
  <overnight>Aboard ms Swiss Sapphire</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="5">
  <title>Bamberg / Along the Main</title>
  <description>Dock in Hassfurt for an excursion to charming Bamberg, set atop seven hills. Take a walking tour of Old Town, see its 13th-century cathedral, and visit a historic Bamberg brewery for a tour and tasting. As you cruise the Main this afternoon, listen to audio commentary by your Tauck Directors throughout the ship or in your cabin.</description>
  <overnight>Aboard ms Swiss Sapphire</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="6">
  <title>Würzburg</title>
  <description>Würzburg has a long and storied history, but much of the architecture you’ll see as you tour this cathedral town was reconstructed after 90% of the city was destroyed in World War II. This includes the Alte Mainbrücke and the Residenz, a beautiful palace complex you’ll visit this morning and return to tonight for dinner in the wine cellar featuring a wine tasting and entertainment.</description>
  <overnight>Aboard ms Swiss Sapphire</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="7">
  <title>Miltenberg </title>
  <description>Cruise to Miltenberg and spend the morning exploring this old Bavarian town with its hilltop castle, medieval gates and market square, half-timbered houses and traces of Roman roots. The remainder of the day is spent cruising the River Main’s lush, romantic landscapes. A Bavarian-themed dinner entertains this evening aboard the ship.</description>
  <overnight>Aboard ms Swiss Sapphire</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="8">
  <title>Historic Heidelberg</title>
  <description>Head out for a full day’s excursion to Heidelberg where a walking tour reveals Old Town’s mix of medieval Gothic walls and gates, Renaissance and 17th-century Baroque homes, and palaces; take a funicular ride up to romantic Heidelberger Schloss, a Gothic-Renaissance castle. Have lunch in a local Heidelberg restaurant and spend time exploring on your own before continuing your cruise this evening along the Rhine River.</description>
  <overnight>Aboard ms Swiss Sapphire</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="9">
  <title>Baden-Baden, Spa Town</title>
  <description>Baden-Baden’s famous springs have been known to bathers since Roman times. Visit this acclaimed Black Forest spa town on an excursion from Plittersdorf, discovering castle ruins and the remains of its Roman baths on a walking tour. Check out the famed Casino, a 250-year-old Belle Èpoque treasure, then explore more of Baden-Baden on your own. Join us this evening for a farewell reception and dinner aboard the riverboat.</description>
  <overnight>Aboard ms Swiss Sapphire</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="10">
  <title>Strasbourg / Disembark </title>
  <description>Arrive in Strasbourg, principal city of France’s Alsace region and site of the Council of Europe and the European Parliament, where you’ll disembark your riverboat. Having seen much history over the centuries, Strasbourg’s rich mix of architecture ranges from Gothic to Renaissance to Baroque to Art Nouveau to modern, like the European Parliament buildings you’ll pass en route to a walking tour of La Petite France in the Grande Ile district – a UNESCO World Heritage Site with canals, medieval watchtowers and half-timbered houses. Visit the 11th-century Cathedral of Our Lady; towering over the city, it was the world’s tallest building for 200 years, and can be seen from across the Rhine. Spend the rest of the day exploring Strasbourg on your own from your hotel in Grande Ile.</description>
  <overnight>Sofitel Strasbourg Grande Île, Strasbourg, France</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="11">
  <title>Alsace / Route des Vins</title>
  <description>Travel along the renowned Route des Vins d’Alsace (Alsatian Wine Road), passing through enchanting little villages of the Alsace region, one of France’s most important wine-growing areas. Sample the wares of local vintners during lunch at a former manor house in Obernai before returning to Strasbourg for an evening at leisure.</description>
  <overnight>Sofitel Strasbourg Grande Île, Strasbourg, France</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="12">
  <title>Journey Home</title>
  <description>Tour ends: Strasbourg, France. A transfer is included from the Sofitel Strasbourg Grande Ile to Strasbourg International Airport; allow 3 hours for flight check-in.</description>
  <overnight></overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast</meals>
</itineraryDay>
  </itineraryDetails>
  <highlights></highlights>
  <tauckValues>
    <value order="1">Gratuities to ship staff, drivers, Tauck Directors and Tauck Cruise Director</value><value order="2">All private Tauck shore excursions – $740 Value!</value><value order="3">Two nights each in Strasbourg and Prague at five-star hotels in the heart of the cities</value><value order="4">Tauck Exclusive – A private tour of the beautiful Baroque libraries of Strahov Monastery in Prague</value><value order="5">Lunch at a former manor house in Obernai with local wine from the romantic Alsace region</value><value order="6">A special dinner, entertainment, and wine tasting in the wine cellars of Würzburg’s famous Residenz</value><value order="7">Tour and tasting at a historic Bamberg brewery</value><value order="8">A visit to the opulent Baden-Baden Casino</value><value order="9">A transit of the Main-Danube Canal, enhanced by an on-board lecture by a local expert</value><value order="10">Evenings of traditional entertainment aboard the riverboat, including a Bavarian-themed dinner</value><value order="11">11 breakfasts, 8 lunches and 9 dinners – wine with dinner is included aboard the riverboat, and select meals will be in local restaurants</value><value order="12">Service charges, taxes, porterage, airport transfers and applicable fuel surcharges</value>
  </tauckValues>  
  <departureDates>
    <date>
    <day>6</day>
    <month>7</month>
    <year>2010</year>
    <singlesPrice>4586</singlesPrice>
    <doublesPrice>3990</doublesPrice>
    <triplesPrice>5795</triplesPrice>
    <quadsPrice>0</quadsPrice>
    <cabins>
<cabin>
  <categoryCode>RSW20101</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>1</occupancy>
  <description>Cat 1, Base Double *Emerald</description>
  <suppliment>0</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>4586</totalPrice>
</cabin>
<cabin>
  <categoryCode>RSW20101</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>2</occupancy>
  <description>Cat 1, Base Double *Emerald</description>
  <suppliment>0</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>3990</totalPrice>
</cabin>
<cabin>
  <categoryCode>RSW20102</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>1</occupancy>
  <description>Cat 2, Mini-Suite *Emerald</description>
  <suppliment>1350</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>5936</totalPrice>
</cabin>
<cabin>
  <categoryCode>RSW20102</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>2</occupancy>
  <description>Cat 2, Mini-Suite *Emerald</description>
  <suppliment>250</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>4240</totalPrice>
</cabin>
<cabin>
  <categoryCode>RSW20103</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>1</occupancy>
  <description>Cat 3, Double *Ruby</description>
  <suppliment>1190</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>5776</totalPrice>
</cabin>
<cabin>
  <categoryCode>RSW20103</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>2</occupancy>
  <description>Cat 3, Double *Ruby</description>
  <suppliment>850</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>4840</totalPrice>
</cabin>
<cabin>
  <categoryCode>RSW20104</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>1</occupancy>
  <description>Cat 4, Mini-Suite *Ruby</description>
  <suppliment>3638</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>8224</totalPrice>
</cabin>
<cabin>
  <categoryCode>RSW20104</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>2</occupancy>
  <description>Cat 4, Mini-Suite *Ruby</description>
  <suppliment>1150</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>5140</totalPrice>
</cabin>
<cabin>
  <categoryCode>RSW20105</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>1</occupancy>
  <description>Cat 5, Mini-Suite *Diamond</description>
  <suppliment>5172</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>9758</totalPrice>
</cabin>
<cabin>
  <categoryCode>RSW20105</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>2</occupancy>
  <description>Cat 5, Mini-Suite *Diamond</description>
  <suppliment>1750</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>5740</totalPrice>
</cabin>
<cabin>
  <categoryCode>RSW20106</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>1</occupancy>
  <description>Cat 6, Suite *Diamond</description>
  <suppliment>6362</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>10948</totalPrice>
</cabin>
<cabin>
  <categoryCode>RSW20106</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>2</occupancy>
  <description>Cat 6, Suite *Diamond</description>
  <suppliment>2450</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>6440</totalPrice>
</cabin>
<cabin>
  <categoryCode>RSW20106</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>3</occupancy>
  <description>Cat 6, Suite *Diamond</description>
  <suppliment>0</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>5795</totalPrice>
</cabin></cabins>
  </date>
  <date>
    <day>3</day>
    <month>8</month>
    <year>2010</year>
    <singlesPrice>5586</singlesPrice>
    <doublesPrice>3990</doublesPrice>
    <triplesPrice>5795</triplesPrice>
    <quadsPrice>0</quadsPrice>
    <cabins>
<cabin>
  <categoryCode>RSW20101</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>1</occupancy>
  <description>Cat 1, Base Double *Emerald</description>
  <suppliment>0</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>5586</totalPrice>
</cabin>
<cabin>
  <categoryCode>RSW20101</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>2</occupancy>
  <description>Cat 1, Base Double *Emerald</description>
  <suppliment>0</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>3990</totalPrice>
</cabin>
<cabin>
  <categoryCode>RSW20102</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>1</occupancy>
  <description>Cat 2, Mini-Suite *Emerald</description>
  <suppliment>350</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>5936</totalPrice>
</cabin>
<cabin>
  <categoryCode>RSW20102</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>2</occupancy>
  <description>Cat 2, Mini-Suite *Emerald</description>
  <suppliment>250</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>4240</totalPrice>
</cabin>
<cabin>
  <categoryCode>RSW20103</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>1</occupancy>
  <description>Cat 3, Double *Ruby</description>
  <suppliment>1190</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>6776</totalPrice>
</cabin>
<cabin>
  <categoryCode>RSW20103</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>2</occupancy>
  <description>Cat 3, Double *Ruby</description>
  <suppliment>850</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>4840</totalPrice>
</cabin>
<cabin>
  <categoryCode>RSW20104</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>1</occupancy>
  <description>Cat 4, Mini-Suite *Ruby</description>
  <suppliment>2638</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>8224</totalPrice>
</cabin>
<cabin>
  <categoryCode>RSW20104</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>2</occupancy>
  <description>Cat 4, Mini-Suite *Ruby</description>
  <suppliment>1150</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>5140</totalPrice>
</cabin>
<cabin>
  <categoryCode>RSW20105</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>1</occupancy>
  <description>Cat 5, Mini-Suite *Diamond</description>
  <suppliment>4172</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>9758</totalPrice>
</cabin>
<cabin>
  <categoryCode>RSW20105</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>2</occupancy>
  <description>Cat 5, Mini-Suite *Diamond</description>
  <suppliment>1750</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>5740</totalPrice>
</cabin>
<cabin>
  <categoryCode>RSW20106</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>1</occupancy>
  <description>Cat 6, Suite *Diamond</description>
  <suppliment>5362</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>10948</totalPrice>
</cabin>
<cabin>
  <categoryCode>RSW20106</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>2</occupancy>
  <description>Cat 6, Suite *Diamond</description>
  <suppliment>2450</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>6440</totalPrice>
</cabin>
<cabin>
  <categoryCode>RSW20106</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>3</occupancy>
  <description>Cat 6, Suite *Diamond</description>
  <suppliment>0</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>5795</totalPrice>
</cabin></cabins>
  </date>

</departureDates>

</tour><tour>
  <sourceId>RXE2010</sourceId>
  <title>Grand European Cruise</title>
  <summary>
    <![CDATA[
		
Explore European landscapes on Tauck&apos;s ultimate North Sea to Black Sea tour by riverboat! Set off aboard ms Swiss Sapphire or ms Swiss Jewel on a grand 3-week cruise through nine European countries along the Rhine, Main and Danube, plus two nights at a grand city-center hotel in Bucharest.

]]>
  </summary>
  <description>
    <![CDATA[Travel like the royals of old on our Grand European Cruise, combining Amsterdam to Budapest by Riverboat with Budapest to the Black Sea
to create an unforgettable 24-day North Sea to Black Sea tour through
the heart of Europe – including a 21-day cruise aboard one of Tauck&apos;s state-of-the-art riverboats, ms Swiss Sapphire or ms Swiss Jewel.
This remarkable voyage along the Danube, Main and Rhine rivers takes
you through the Netherlands, Germany, Austria, Slovakia, Hungary,
Croatia, Serbia, Bulgaria and Romania. Glide past grand cathedrals,
medieval monasteries, and historic citadels – as well as through the
Main-Danube Canal and the Iron Gate of the Danube. Tauck’s private,
inclusive shore excursions take in many UNESCO World Heritage Sites,
and in-depth exploration of cities including Amsterdam, Köln, Vienna,
Bratislava, Budapest, Belgrade and Bucharest. It&apos;s the ultimate European river cruise... with the Tauck Difference!

]]>
  </description>
  <link>http://www.tauck.com/tours/europe-tours/central-and-eastern-europe-tours/black-sea-tour-rxe-2010</link>
  <durationDays>24</durationDays>
  <durationDetails>24 days and 23 nights.</durationDetails>
  <tripType>ESCORTED_CRUISE</tripType>
  <brand>Riverboats</brand>
  <subbrand>Riverboat</subbrand>
  <gradeRating>ALL_AGES</gradeRating>
  <comfortRating>COMFORTABLE_MIXED</comfortRating>
  <startingLocation>Amsterdam, Netherlands</startingLocation>
  <prices>
    <price currency="USD">8390</price>
    <priceDetails><![CDATA[All prices are per person in U.S. dollars. ]]></priceDetails>
  </prices>
  <images>
    <image isMain="true">http://tools.tauck.com/Files/ItineraryImages/ListImages/img_RXE2010_list.jpg</image>
    <image>http://tools.tauck.com/Files/ItineraryImages/altImages/RXE2010_alt1.jpg</image>
    <image>http://tools.tauck.com/Files/ItineraryImages/altImages/RXE2010_alt2.jpg</image>
    <image>http://tools.tauck.com/Files/ItineraryImages/altImages/RXE2010_alt3.jpg</image>
    <image isMap="true">http://tools.tauck.com/Files/ItineraryImages/MapImages/map_RXE2010.jpg</image>
  </images>
  <itinerary>
    <![CDATA[Eastbound Itinerary

• = cruise day

• 1. Arrive Amsterdam
Tour begins: 4:00 PM, Amsterdam, Netherlands. Welcome to Amsterdam! Transfers are included from Schiphol Airport to the ship. Embarkation begins anytime after 4:00 PM aboard ms Swiss Sapphire or ms Swiss Jewel. A traditional Dutch gin toast, followed by dinner, provides a warm welcome for the first night on the riverboat. Meals D

• 2. Discover Art &amp; More in Amsterdam
Your guided tour of the famed Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam is really inspiring – a firsthand look at Rembrandt’s masterpiece The Night Watch is like meeting the artist himself, and you’ll love seeing acclaimed works by well-known Dutch Masters. A sightseeing cruise by canal boat along the city’s network of concentric, tree-lined 17th-century canals provides a unique view of Amsterdam’s blend of architectural styles – they date all the way back to medieval times. Back aboard the riverboat, the Captain’s welcome reception is followed by a special welcome dinner and an evening of live music. Meals BLD

• 3. Historic Treasures of Köln
A morning cruise along the River Rhine to Köln (Cologne), the oldest city in Germany, is enriched by commentary from your Tauck Director and lunch al fresco on the sun deck. A guided walking tour of Köln includes a visit to twin-spired Kölner Dom, one of Europe’s most beloved Gothic cathedrals, plus free time to explore Cathedral Square and Köln’s Hohe Strasse pedestrian area in the afternoon. Meals BLD

• 4. Lorelei Valley / Rüdesheim 
In Koblenz this morning you have a choice of taking a walking tour through the historic Old Town or visiting 13th-century Marksburg Castle for an in-depth look at life in a medieval castle. Your Tauck Director tells some great tales as you cruise through the Lorelei Valley to Rüdesheim, where you’ll visit Siegfrieds Mechanisches Musikkabinett. Dine off the riverboat tonight in an old-world German restaurant. Meals BLD

• 5. Miltenberg / Cruise the Main
Cruising along the river is filled with lectures and special demonstrations such as glass blowing or cooking. Wind your way along the Main to the walled town of Miltenberg, whose roots date back to Roman times – view the town’s hilltop castle, half-timbered houses and picturesque marketplace. Enjoy a Bavarian-themed dinner as you continue through lush valleys to Worth. Meals BLD

• 6. Rothenburg / Würzburg
Travel by land to Rothenburg, on the beautiful Romantic Road, where a walking tour shows you the Gothic cathedral, towered walls and gabled houses along the cobbled lanes of this 13th-century town. On a visit to Würzburg, tour the Baroque palace, the 18th-century Residenz, and see the ornate Alte Mainbrücke. Tonight – an oompa band! Meals BLD

• 7. Explore Medieval Bamberg
A morning cruise along the Main precedes a journey to Bamberg. Situated atop seven hills, this endearing Bavarian city is home to a magnificent 13th-century cathedral; see its unique architecture and colorful gardens during a walking tour of Old Town. Spend some time at leisure exploring Bamberg as you please. Meals BLD

• 8. Main-Danube Canal / Nürnberg
Spend a morning cruising the Main-Danube Canal, which fulfilled a centuries-old dream of linking the North Sea with the Black Sea; learn about the canal’s history from a local expert during your transit. Arrive in the historic city of Nürnberg, which played a key role in World War II and its aftermath. After lunch and some entertainment at a local restaurant, discover the city’s medieval heart on a walking tour prior to returning to the riverboat for dinner. Meals BLD

• 9. Ancient Regensburg
Arrive in Regensburg, once a campsite of the Roman legions; see the Steinerne Brücke (Stone Bridge), the 15th-century Altes Rathaus (Town Hall), and Dom St. Peter, towering high above the town. Spend the afternoon as you please in Regensburg before setting off for Passau. Meals BLD

• 10. Discover Passau / Danube Cruise
A guided walking tour of Passau, renowned for its stained glass, takes you through a historic legacy that begins in ancient Roman times! You’ll cruise the Danube this afternoon, with great insights from your Tauck Director and perhaps a tour of the riverboat’s galley! Meals BLD

• 11. Picturesque Melk / Dürnstein
Step back in time today on a guided visit to the much-photographed 900-year-old Melk Abbey, and a walking tour through the twisting old lanes of Dürnstein. See the hilltop ruins of a castle where Richard the Lionhearted was once held for ransom, and attend a wine tasting. Meals BLD

• 12. An Imperial Day &amp; Night in Vienna--
Welcome to Vienna – one of Europe’s greatest cities, and formerly the capital of the Habsburg empire. Morning sightseeing includes your choice of a visit to Schönbrunn Palace or a tour of the Imperial Silver Room in the Hofburg. Tonight’s Tauck Exclusive will be long remembered – a private Imperial Evening in a traditional palace, with a grand dinner accompanied by fine Viennese musicians. Meals BLD

• 13. Historic Bratislava, Slovakia 
Awaken in Bratislava, Slovakia’s magical capital city; a walking tour explores thousands of years of history. Join the Captain tonight for a special farewell cocktail reception, a farewell dinner, and a musical performance. Meals BLD

• 14. Buda + Pest = Budapest
Upon arrival in Budapest, spend time exploring this architecturally rich city on a guided tour of landmark sights in Pest or relaxing on a spa visit. Meals BLD

• 15. Hungary’s Capital, Budapest
Following a morning at leisure in one of Europe’s most fashionable cities, a guided walking tour of Buda includes Castle Hill, featuring Fishermen’s Bastion overlooking the Danube, and 700-year-old Matthias Church (may be closed on some days due to services). Meals BLD

• 17. Solt / Kalocsa
Take a horse-drawn wagon ride to the Equestrian Center, where local craftsmen and traditional Puszta horsemen demonstrate their skills. Your riverboat cruises to Kalocsa this afternoon, celebrated for its paprika and folk art. Visit the magnificent Rococo-style paneled library in the 18th-century Baroque Bishop’s Palace, considered one of the finest libraries in Europe, and attend a wine tasting at a Hungarian winery before rejoining the riverboat. Meals BLD

• 17. Cruise to Croatia
An on-board lecture about the diverse events and cultural influences that have contributed to Croatia’s turbulent history sets the stage for your visit to the 10th-century city of Vukovar, rebuilding after the 1990s war. Vukovar was renowned for its elegant 18th-century Baroque mansions, and today is a mix of old and new. Cruise to Serbia this afternoon, with commentary from your Tauck Director. Meals BLD

• 18. Belgrade, Serbia’s Capital
Awaken dockside in Belgrade, the cosmopolitan capital of Serbia; the city’s roots date back to a Celtic settlement in 3 BC. A lecture aboard ship paves the way for a guided sightseeing tour that includes visits to Tito’s Memorial, St. Sava Church, and Kalemegdan Fortress; see Slavija Square, Parliament, City Hall, Republic Square and the National Theatre. You’ll have time on your own before returning to the riverboat, where this evening a music and dance presentation follows dinner. Meals BLD

• 19. Iron Gate of the Danube
Activities on the riverboat throughout your cruise include special lectures and presentations, such as cooking demonstrations or music and dance performances. Spend a relaxing day cruising the Danube River through the scenic heartland of Eastern Europe. Pass through the Kazan Narrows and the Iron Gate, a series of narrow gorges where the Danube courses down from the towering Carpathian Mountains. Today you’ll see a monument to the 2nd-century Dacian King Decebalus carved into the Danube’s rocky bank. Europe’s tallest rock sculpture, it was completed in 2004 after a decade of work by a dozen sculptors. View the Transylvanian Alps as you cruise to Bulgaria. Meals BLD

• 20. Welcome to Bulgaria
For those fascinated by the imagery and symbols in visual arts – and the subject of several popular novels – there is an opportunity to attend a lecture and demonstration on Iconography this morning. Your riverboat arrives into Svishtov, Bulgaria, for culturally rich visits to nearby Bulgarian towns. Travel to Veliko Turnovo, which served as Bulgaria’s capital in medieval times – the sight of its ancient walled fortress and castle nestled atop three hills on the Yantra River is memorable. In the neighboring town of Arbanassi, sample local cuisine at a home-hosted private lunch, where you’ll have a unique opportunity to meet and dine with your Bulgarian contemporaries. The day ends back on board the riverboat with a special music and dance performance and a look at traditional Bulgarian customs. Meals BLD

• 21. Romania’s Black Sea Coast
Your riverboat arrives in Cernavoda, Romania, this morning for a day trip to the beautiful Black Sea coast. Take a guided tour of the resort city of Constanta, then visit the seaside resort of Mamaia, one of the largest on Romania’s coast. A popular vacation destination for over a century, Mamaia boasts the only beaches in Europe featuring fine, pure-white sand. Back on the riverboat, your cruise comes to an end this evening when we celebrate new knowledge, renewed inspiration and everlasting friendships at the Captain’s farewell cocktail reception and dinner. Meals BLD

22. Disembark Ship / Bucharest
Disembark the riverboat in Cernavoda and travel through the Romanian countryside to Bucharest for a two-night stay. Following lunch at a local restaurant, a sightseeing tour of Romania’s capital, once regarded as “the Paris of the Balkans,” includes Revolution Square and the granite Triumphal Arch, a smaller copy of Paris’ Arc de Triomphe. Your day also features a visit to Bucharest’s huge People’s Palace, home to the Romanian Parliament; some parts of it are still unfinished! Your landmark hotel, Athénée Palace Hilton Bucharest, has played a role in Bucharest history since 1914; it is one of Romania’s top hotels. Meals BLD

23. Peles Castle / Snagov Monastery
You have a choice of sightseeing today. Take a full day excursion to tour fairy-tale Peles Castle in Sinaia (subject to weekly closures), built for the Romanian royal family in the 1880s. Alternatively, take a boat across Snagov Lake to tiny Snagov Island, the reputed burial place of Vlad the Impaler (inspiration for Bram Stoker’s Dracula). Meals BL

24. Journey Home
Tour ends: Bucharest, Romania. A transfer from the Athénée Palace Hilton Bucharest to Bucharest Airport is included; allow 2½ hours for flight check-in. Meals B
]]>
  </itinerary>
  <itineraryDetails>
    <itineraryDay day="1">
  <title>Arrive Amsterdam</title>
  <description>Tour begins: 4:00 PM, Amsterdam, Netherlands.  Welcome to Amsterdam! Transfers are included from Schiphol Airport to the ship.  Embarkation begins anytime after 4:00 PM aboard ms Swiss Sapphire or ms Swiss Jewel.  A traditional Dutch gin toast, followed by dinner, provides a warm welcome for the first night on the riverboat.  Meals D</description>
  <overnight>Cruising aboard the Riverboat</overnight>
  <meals>Dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="2">
  <title>Discover Art &amp; More in Amsterdam</title>
  <description>Your guided tour of the famed Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam is really inspiring &amp;#45; a firsthand look at Rembrandt&apos;s masterpiece The Night Watch is like meeting the artist himself, and you&apos;ll love seeing acclaimed works by well&amp;#45;known Dutch Masters.  A sightseeing cruise by canal boat along the city&apos;s network of concentric, tree&amp;#45;lined 17th&amp;#45;century canals provides a unique view of Amsterdam&apos;s blend of architectural styles &amp;#45; they date all the way back to medieval times.  Back aboard the riverboat, the Captain&apos;s welcome reception is followed by a special welcome dinner and an evening of live music.  Meals BLD</description>
  <overnight>Cruising aboard the Riverboat</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="3">
  <title>Historic Treasures of K&amp;#246;ln</title>
  <description>A morning cruise along the River Rhine to K&amp;#246;ln (Cologne), the oldest city in Germany, is enriched by commentary from your Tauck Director and lunch al fresco on the sun deck.  A guided walking tour of K&amp;#246;ln includes a visit to twin&amp;#45;spired K&amp;#246;lner Dom, one of Europe&apos;s most beloved Gothic cathedrals, plus free time to explore Cathedral Square and K&amp;#246;ln&apos;s Hohe Strasse pedestrian area in the afternoon.  Meals BLD</description>
  <overnight>Cruising aboard the Riverboat</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="4">
  <title>Lorelei Valley / R&amp;#252;desheim </title>
  <description>In Koblenz this morning you have a choice of taking a walking tour through the historic Old Town or visiting 13th&amp;#45;century Marksburg Castle for an in&amp;#45;depth look at life in a medieval castle.  Your Tauck Director tells some great tales as you cruise through the Lorelei Valley to R&amp;#252;desheim, where you&apos;ll visit Siegfrieds Mechanisches Musikkabinett.  Dine off the riverboat tonight in an old&amp;#45;world German restaurant.  Meals BLD</description>
  <overnight>Cruising aboard the Riverboat</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="5">
  <title>Miltenberg / Cruise the Main</title>
  <description>Cruising along the river is filled with lectures and special demonstrations such as glass blowing or cooking.  Wind your way along the Main to the walled town of Miltenberg, whose roots date back to Roman times &amp;#45; view the town&apos;s hilltop castle, half&amp;#45;timbered houses and picturesque marketplace.  Enjoy a Bavarian&amp;#45;themed dinner as you continue through lush valleys to Worth.  Meals BLD</description>
  <overnight>Cruising aboard the Riverboat</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="6">
  <title>Rothenburg / W&amp;#252;rzburg</title>
  <description>Travel by land to Rothenburg, on the beautiful Romantic Road, where a walking tour shows you the Gothic cathedral, towered walls and gabled houses along the cobbled lanes of this 13th&amp;#45;century town.  On a visit to W&amp;#252;rzburg, tour the Baroque palace, the 18th&amp;#45;century Residenz, and see the ornate Alte Mainbr&amp;#252;cke.  Tonight &amp;#45; an oompa band! Meals BLD</description>
  <overnight>Cruising aboard the Riverboat</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="7">
  <title>Explore Medieval Bamberg</title>
  <description>A morning cruise along the Main precedes a journey to Bamberg.  Situated atop seven hills, this endearing Bavarian city is home to a magnificent 13th&amp;#45;century cathedral; see its unique architecture and colorful gardens during a walking tour of Old Town.  Spend some time at leisure exploring Bamberg as you please.  Meals BLD</description>
  <overnight>Cruising aboard the Riverboat</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="8">
  <title>Main&amp;#45;Danube Canal / N&amp;#252;rnberg</title>
  <description>Spend a morning cruising the Main&amp;#45;Danube Canal, which fulfilled a centuries&amp;#45;old dream of linking the North Sea with the Black Sea; learn about the canal&apos;s history from a local expert during your transit.  Arrive in the historic city of N&amp;#252;rnberg, which played a key role in World War II and its aftermath.  After lunch and some entertainment at a local restaurant, discover the city&apos;s medieval heart on a walking tour prior to returning to the riverboat for dinner.  Meals BLD</description>
  <overnight>Cruising aboard the Riverboat</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="9">
  <title>Ancient Regensburg</title>
  <description>Arrive in Regensburg, once a campsite of the Roman legions; see the Steinerne Br&amp;#252;cke (Stone Bridge), the 15th&amp;#45;century Altes Rathaus (Town Hall), and Dom St.  Peter, towering high above the town.  Spend the afternoon as you please in Regensburg before setting off for Passau.  Meals BLD</description>
  <overnight>Cruising aboard the Riverboat</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="10">
  <title>Discover Passau / Danube Cruise</title>
  <description>A guided walking tour of Passau, renowned for its stained glass, takes you through a historic legacy that begins in ancient Roman times! You&apos;ll cruise the Danube this afternoon, with great insights from your Tauck Director and perhaps a tour of the riverboat&apos;s galley! Meals BLD</description>
  <overnight>Cruising aboard the Riverboat</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="11">
  <title>Picturesque Melk / D&amp;#252;rnstein</title>
  <description>Step back in time today on a guided visit to the much&amp;#45;photographed 900&amp;#45;year&amp;#45;old Melk Abbey, and a walking tour through the twisting old lanes of D&amp;#252;rnstein.  See the hilltop ruins of a castle where Richard the Lionhearted was once held for ransom, and attend a wine tasting.  Meals BLD</description>
  <overnight>Cruising aboard the Riverboat</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="12">
  <title>An Imperial Day &amp; Night in Vienna&amp;#45;&amp;#45;</title>
  <description>Welcome to Vienna &amp;#45; one of Europe&apos;s greatest cities, and formerly the capital of the Habsburg empire.  Morning sightseeing includes your choice of a visit to Sch&amp;#246;nbrunn Palace or a tour of the Imperial Silver Room in the Hofburg.  Tonight&apos;s Tauck Exclusive will be long remembered &amp;#45; a private Imperial Evening in a traditional palace, with a grand dinner accompanied by fine Viennese musicians.  Meals BLD</description>
  <overnight>Cruising aboard the Riverboat</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="13">
  <title>Historic Bratislava, Slovakia </title>
  <description>Awaken in Bratislava, Slovakia&apos;s magical capital city; a walking tour explores thousands of years of history.  Join the Captain tonight for a special farewell cocktail reception, a farewell dinner, and a musical performance.  Meals BLD</description>
  <overnight>Cruising aboard the Riverboat</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="14">
  <title>Buda + Pest = Budapest</title>
  <description>Upon arrival in Budapest, spend time exploring this architecturally rich city on a guided tour of landmark sights in Pest or relaxing on a spa visit.  Meals BLD</description>
  <overnight>Cruising aboard the Riverboat</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="15">
  <title>Hungary’s Capital, Budapest</title>
  <description>Following a morning at leisure in one of Europe’s most fashionable cities, a guided walking tour of Buda includes Castle Hill, featuring Fishermen’s Bastion overlooking the Danube, and 700-year-old Matthias Church (may be closed on some days due to services).</description>
  <overnight>Cruising aboard the Riverboat</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="16">
  <title>&amp;bull; Horses and folkways in Hungary</title>
  <description>Upon your riverboat&apos;s arrival in Solt, Hungary, a horse-drawn wagon ride takes you to the Equestrian Center, where
you&apos;ll see colorfully-garbed Puszta horsemen demonstrating traditional skills. Then
cruise to Kalocsa, celebrated for its paprika and folk art, where
you&apos;ll visit the beautiful Baroque library in the Bishop’s Palace,
housing one of the finest early collections in Europe.
</description>
  <overnight>Cruising aboard the Riverboat</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="17">
  <title>Cruise to Croatia</title>
  <description>An on-board lecture about the diverse events and cultural influences that have contributed to Croatia’s turbulent history sets the stage for your visit to the 10th-century city of Vukovar, rebuilding after the 1990s war. Vukovar was renowned for its elegant 18th-century Baroque mansions, and today is a mix of old and new. Cruise to Serbia this afternoon, with commentary from your Tauck Director.</description>
  <overnight>Cruising aboard the Riverboat</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="18">
  <title>Belgrade, Serbia’s Capital</title>
  <description>Awaken dockside in Belgrade, the cosmopolitan capital of Serbia; the city’s roots date back to a Celtic settlement in 3 BC. A lecture aboard ship paves the way for a guided sightseeing tour that includes visits to Tito’s Memorial, St. Sava Church, and Kalemegdan Fortress; see Slavija Square, Parliament, City Hall, Republic Square and the National Theatre. You’ll have time on your own before returning to the riverboat, where this evening a music and dance presentation follows dinner.</description>
  <overnight>Cruising aboard the Riverboat</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="19">
  <title>Iron Gate of the Danube</title>
  <description>Activities on the riverboat throughout your cruise include special lectures and presentations, such as cooking demonstrations or music and dance performances. Spend a relaxing day cruising the Danube River through the scenic heartland of Eastern Europe. Pass through the Kazan Narrows and the Iron Gate, a series of narrow gorges where the Danube courses down from the towering Carpathian Mountains. Today you’ll see a monument to the 2nd-century Dacian King Decebalus carved into the Danube’s rocky bank. Europe’s tallest rock sculpture, it was completed in 2004 after a decade of work by a dozen sculptors. View the Transylvanian Alps as you cruise to Bulgaria.</description>
  <overnight>Cruising aboard the Riverboat</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="20">
  <title>Welcome to Bulgaria</title>
  <description>For those fascinated by the imagery and symbols in visual arts – and the subject of several popular novels – there is an opportunity to attend a lecture and demonstration on Iconography this morning. Your riverboat arrives into Svishtov, Bulgaria, for culturally rich visits to nearby Bulgarian towns. Travel to Veliko Turnovo, which served as Bulgaria’s capital in medieval times – the sight of its ancient walled fortress and castle nestled atop three hills on the Yantra River is memorable. In the neighboring town of Arbanassi, sample local cuisine at a home-hosted private lunch, where you’ll have a unique opportunity to meet and dine with your Bulgarian contemporaries. The day ends back on board the riverboat with a special music and dance performance and a look at traditional Bulgarian customs.</description>
  <overnight>Cruising aboard the Riverboat</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="21">
  <title>Romania’s Black Sea Coast</title>
  <description>Your riverboat arrives in Cernavoda, Romania, this morning for a day trip to the beautiful Black Sea coast. Take a guided tour of the resort city of Constanta, then visit the seaside resort of Mamaia, one of the largest on Romania’s coast. A popular vacation destination for over a century, Mamaia boasts the only beaches in Europe featuring fine, pure-white sand. Back on the riverboat, your cruise comes to an end this evening when we celebrate new knowledge, renewed inspiration and everlasting friendships at the Captain’s farewell cocktail reception and dinner.</description>
  <overnight>Cruising aboard the Riverboat</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="22">
  <title>Disembark Ship / Bucharest</title>
  <description>Disembark the riverboat in Cernavoda and travel through the Romanian countryside to Bucharest for a two-night stay. Following lunch at a local restaurant, a sightseeing tour of Romania’s capital, once regarded as “the Paris of the Balkans,” includes Revolution Square and the granite Triumphal Arch, a smaller copy of Paris’ Arc de Triomphe. Your day also features a visit to Bucharest’s huge People’s Palace, home to the Romanian Parliament; some parts of it are still unfinished! Your landmark hotel, Athénée Palace Hilton Bucharest, has played a role in Bucharest history since 1914; it is one of Romania’s top hotels.</description>
  <overnight>JW Marriott Bucharest Grand Hotel, Bucharest, Romania</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="23">
  <title>Peles Castle / Snagov Monastery</title>
  <description>You have a choice of sightseeing today. Take a full day excursion to tour fairy-tale Peles Castle in Sinaia (subject to weekly closures), built for the Romanian royal family in the 1880s. Alternatively, take a boat across Snagov Lake to tiny Snagov Island, the reputed burial place of Vlad the Impaler (inspiration for Bram Stoker’s Dracula).</description>
  <overnight>JW Marriott Bucharest Grand Hotel, Bucharest, Romania</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="24">
  <title>Journey Home</title>
  <description>Tour ends: Bucharest, Romania. A transfer from the Athénée Palace Hilton Bucharest to Bucharest Airport is included; allow 2½ hours for flight check-in.</description>
  <overnight></overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast</meals>
</itineraryDay>
  </itineraryDetails>
  <highlights>		
Amsterdam ~ Köln ~ Vienna ~ Bratislava ~ Budapest ~ Belgrade ~ Bucharest 
</highlights>
  <tauckValues>
    <value order="1">Gratuities to ship staff, drivers, local guides, Tauck Directors and Tauck Cruise Director</value><value order="2">All private Tauck shore excursions  $1,554 Value!</value><value order="3">Two nights at the Athenee Palace Hilton Bucharest</value><value order="4">A private Imperial Evening at a traditional palace in Vienna featuring dinner and Viennese performers</value><value order="5">Memorable visits to Melk Abbey, Kolner Dom, and Siegfrieds Mechanisches Musikkabinett in Rudesheim</value><value order="6">A horse-drawn wagon ride to an equestrian center in Hungary for a demonstration of cultural traditions</value><value order="7">Choice of visits to Peles Castle or Snagov Monastery</value><value order="8">Guided sightseeing in the European cultural capitals of Vienna, Bucharest, Budapest, Belgrade and Bratislava</value><value order="9">23 breakfasts, 22 lunches &amp; 22 dinners. Some meals in local restaurants; wine with dinner on the riverboat</value><value order="10">Service charges, taxes, porterage, airport transfers and applicable fuel surcharges</value>
  </tauckValues>  
  
</tour><tour>
  <sourceId>RXW2010</sourceId>
  <title>Grand European Cruise</title>
  <summary>
    <![CDATA[
		

Explore the heart of Europe on Tauck&apos;s ultimate European cruise – a spectacular Danube, Main and Rhine river tour aboard a state-of-the-art Tauck riverboat! Set off aboard ms Swiss Sapphire or ms Swiss Jewel on a grand 3-week cruise through nine European countries all the way from the Black Sea to the North Sea, preceded by two nights at a grand city-center hotel in Bucharest.

]]>
  </summary>
  <description>
    <![CDATA[Travel like the royals of old on our Grand European Cruise, combining The Black Sea to Budapest with Budapest to Amsterdam by Riverboat to
create an unforgettable 24-day journey through the heart of Europe including a 21-day cruise aboard one of Tauck&apos;s state-of-the-art riverboats, ms Swiss Sapphire or ms Swiss Jewel.
This remarkable Danube, Main and Rhine river tour takes
you through the Netherlands, Germany, Austria, Slovakia, Hungary,
Croatia, Serbia, Bulgaria and Romania. Glide past grand cathedrals,
medieval monasteries, and historic citadels – as well as through the
Main-Danube Canal and the Iron Gate of the Danube. Tauck’s private,
inclusive shore excursions take in many UNESCO World Heritage Sites,
and in-depth exploration of cities including Amsterdam, Köln, Vienna,
Bratislava, Budapest, Belgrade and Bucharest. It&apos;s the ultimate European river cruise... with the Tauck Difference!
]]>
  </description>
  <link>http://www.tauck.com/tours/europe-tours/central-and-eastern-europe-tours/rhine-river-tour-rxw-2010</link>
  <durationDays>24</durationDays>
  <durationDetails>24 days and 23 nights.</durationDetails>
  <tripType>ESCORTED_TOUR</tripType>
  <brand>Riverboats</brand>
  <subbrand>Riverboat</subbrand>
  <gradeRating>ALL_AGES</gradeRating>
  <comfortRating>COMFORTABLE_MIXED</comfortRating>
  <startingLocation>Bucharest, Romania</startingLocation>
  <prices>
    <price currency="USD">8390</price>
    <priceDetails><![CDATA[All prices are per person in U.S. dollars. ]]></priceDetails>
  </prices>
  <images>
    <image isMain="true">http://tools.tauck.com/Files/ItineraryImages/ListImages/img_RXW2010_list.jpg</image>
    <image>http://tools.tauck.com/Files/ItineraryImages/altImages/RXW2010_alt1.jpg</image>
    <image>http://tools.tauck.com/Files/ItineraryImages/altImages/RXW2010_alt2.jpg</image>
    <image>http://tools.tauck.com/Files/ItineraryImages/altImages/RXW2010_alt3.jpg</image>
    <image isMap="true">http://tools.tauck.com/Files/ItineraryImages/MapImages/map_RXW2010.jpg</image>
  </images>
  <itinerary>
    <![CDATA[Westbound Itinerary

• = cruise day

1. Arrive Bucharest
Tour begins: 6:00 PM, Athénée Palace Hilton Bucharest. A transfer is included from the Bucharest Airport to the Athénée Palace Hilton Bucharest in the heart of the city; a living piece of Bucharest history since 1914, it was recently named Romania’s Leading Hotel. Please join us this evening for a welcome reception and dinner. Meals D

2. Peles Castle / Snagov Monastery
You have a choice of sightseeing today. Take a full-day excursion to Sinaia, Transylvania and a tour of fairy-tale Peles Castle (subject to weekly closures), built for the Romanian royal family in the 1880s; or choose a morning visit to isolated Snagov Monastery, reputed to be the burial place of the historical model for Dracula. Meals BL

• 3. Discover Bucharest / Embark Ship 
More sightseeing choices await you prior to embarking on your cruise later today. You can choose to explore historic Bucharest on a sightseeing tour including visits to the massive People’s Palace – the world’s second-largest building after the Pentagon – and the Romanian Athenaeum. Or drive to the popular seaside resort of Mamaia on Romania’s Black Sea coast, home to Europe’s only pure-white sand beaches, before boarding your riverboat at Cernavoda to begin your Danube River cruise. Meals BLD

• 4. Welcome to Bulgaria
Cruise to Ruse, Bulgaria, today for cultural excursions into nearby Bulgarian towns. Sample local cuisine at a memorable home-hosted private lunch in Arbanassi, where you’ll have a unique opportunity to meet and dine with your Bulgarian contemporaries. Travel to neighboring medieval Veliko Turnovo, with its ancient walled fortress and castle nestled atop three hills on the Yantra River. After rejoining your riverboat in Svishtov to continue your cruise this evening, you’ll be entertained by local Bulgarian performers aboard ship. Meals BLD

• 5. Cruising the Blue Danube / Vidin 
There’s something special about just “kicking back” and watching the scenic heartland of Eastern Europe unfold during a leisurely morning cruising the Danube, enjoying picture-perfect views of the passing landscapes. Attend an on-board lecture and demonstration on Iconography before joining us for a walking tour in Vidin on cobblestone streets, including a visit to the fort. Meals BLD

• 6. Full Day Cruising / Iron Gate
Enjoy a full day’s cruise along Bulgaria’s border with Romania, gliding through the Kazan Narrows and the Iron Gate of the Danube, where the river courses through a series of spectacular gorges. Savor great views of the Transylvanian Alps, and look for a monument to the 2nd-century Dacian King Decebalus carved into the Danube’s rocky bank; it is Europe’s tallest rock sculpture. Your riverboat crosses into Serbia this afternoon. Meals BLD

• 7. Belgrade, Serbia’s Capital
Awaken dockside in Belgrade, the cosmopolitan capital of modern Serbia at the confluence of the Danube and Sava rivers. The city’s roots date back to a Celtic settlement in the 3rd century BC. Today’s sightseeing in Belgrade includes visits to Tito’s Memorial, St. Sava Church, and Kalemegdan Fortress. You’ll also see Slavija Square, Parliament, City Hall and Republic Square. Listen to the music of Serbia when a folkloric group comes on board to entertain you. Meals BLD

• 8. Cruise to Croatia 
Arrive in Croatia for several excursions revealing historic and cultural influences that have shaped the country over the centuries. Witness the lasting effects of the 1990s war poignantly illustrated in the 10th-century city of Vukovar, once renowned for its elegant Baroque mansions. Meals BLD

• 9. Kalocsa and Solt, Hungary
Kalocsa, Hungary, is celebrated both for its paprika and its folk art; see the magnificent Library in the Baroque Bishop’s Palace, one of the finest in Europe. At the Equestrian Center, watch traditional Puszta horsemen demonstrate time-honored skills and traditions, and enjoy a horse-drawn wagon ride. Meals BLD

• 10. Buda + Pest + Budapest
Upon arrival in Budapest, spend time exploring this architecturally rich city on a guided tour of landmark sights in Pest or relaxing on a spa visit. Meals BLD

• 11. Hungary’s Capital, Budapest
Following a morning at leisure in one of Europe’s most fashionable cities, a guided walking tour of Buda includes Castle Hill, featuring Fishermen’s Bastion overlooking the Danube, and 700-year-old Matthias Church (may be closed on some days due to services). Meals BLD

• 12. Historic Bratislava / Danube Cruise 
Arrive in Bratislava, Slovakia’s charming capital; gain insights on centuries of history on a walking tour. Visit Old Town Hall and see the Opera House, Slovak Philharmonic Hall, and St. Martin’s Cathedral. Enjoy Slovakian entertainment aboard the riverboat tonight. Meals BLD

• 13. Experience Imperial Vienna--
Welcome to Vienna – one of Europe’s greatest cities, and formerly the capital of the Habsburg empire. Today’s sightseeing includes your choice of a visit to Schönbrunn Palace or a tour of the Imperial Silver Room in the Hofburg. Receive the royal treatment tonight at a private Imperial Evening in a traditional palace, with a grand dinner accompanied by fine Viennese musicians. Meals BLD

• 14. Dürnstein / Picturesque Melk 
Explore the twisting medieval lanes of Dürnstein and see the hilltop ruins of Kuenringerburg, the castle where Richard the Lionhearted was once held for ransom during the Crusades. Cruise the Wachau Valley to lovely Melk, where you’ll visit the town’s impressive 900-year-old Benedictine Abbey and its Baroque buildings. A wine tasting and local entertainment enhance your night aboard the riverboat. Meals BLD

• 15. Discover Passau / Danube Cruise
Cruise from Austria into Germany today. Renowned for its stained glass, Passau claims a rich historic legacy dating back to Roman times, and boasts a wealth of churches and beautiful Baroque buildings. Explore this ancient Bavarian town on a guided walking tour and go inside St. Stephen’s Cathedral to see the world’s largest church organ. Continue cruising the Danube to Regensburg. Meals BLD

• 16. Ancient Regensburg
Arrive in Regensburg on the Danube, once a campsite of the Roman legions. A guided walking tour reveals its medieval heritage; see Steinerne Brücke (Stone Bridge), the 15th-century Altes Rathaus (Town Hall), and Dom St. Peter, towering high above this riverside town. Meals BLD

• 17. Main-Danube Canal / Nürnberg
Today your riverboat cruises the Main-Danube Canal, which fulfilled an age-old dream of linking the North Sea with the Black Sea; learn about the canal’s history during your transit of its 16 locks. Arrive in the historic city of Nürnberg, which played a key role in World War II and its aftermath. Discover the city’s medieval heart on a walking tour prior to dinner tonight. Sample traditional Nürnberg sausage during tonight’s meal for a true taste of local cuisine. Meals BLD

• 18. Explore Medieval Bamberg
Wake up this morning in Bamberg on the River Main. Situated atop seven hills, this charming medieval Bavarian town is home to a magnificent 13th-century cathedral; see it, along with unique architecture and colorful gardens, during a walking tour of Old Town and time at leisure to explore Bamberg as you please. Meals BLD

• 19. Rothenburg / Würzburg
Rothenburg, on the beautiful “Romantic Road,” awaits you today, living up to its reputation as Europe’s “most perfect fairy-tale town with gingerbread houses and ancient walls.” View the Gothic cathedral, towered walls, and gabled houses along the cobbled lanes of this 13th-century town. On a visit to Würzburg, see the 18th-century Residenz and the Alte Mainbrücke. Tonight, an oompah-pah band! Meals BLD

• 20. Cruise the Main / Miltenberg
A glassblowing demonstration entertains as you cruise the Main to the walled town of Miltenberg. See its hilltop castle, half-timbered houses, and charming marketplace. Meals BLD

• 21. Morning Cruise / Rüdesheim
Spend the morning cruising the Main and Rhine rivers to Rüdesheim. Visit Siegfrieds Mechanisches Musikkabinett, a unique museum displaying one of the world’s largest collections of mechanical musical instruments. Enjoy dinner in an old-world German restaurant. Meals BLD

• 22. Koblenz / Köln 
In Koblenz, choose a walking tour of Old Town or a visit to 13th-century Marksburg Castle for a true taste of medieval life. Cruise the Rhine’s Lorelei Valley to Köln (Cologne), oldest city in Germany. A guided tour visits Kölner Dom, one of Europe’s greatest Gothic cathedrals. Please join us this evening for the Captain’s farewell dinner. Meals BLD

• 23. Discover Amsterdam
After arriving in remarkable Amsterdam, view a host of acclaimed works, including Rembrandt’s famous The Night Watch, at the Rijksmuseum. Get a unique view of the city on a luncheon cruise along its 17th-century canals. Meals BLD

24. Journey Home
Tour ends: Amsterdam, Netherlands. Disembark the riverboat this morning; a transfer is included from the ship to Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport. You should allow a minimum of 2 ½ hours for flight check-in. Meals B
]]>
  </itinerary>
  <itineraryDetails>
    <itineraryDay day="1">
  <title>Begin your Danube, Main and Rhine River tour in Bucharest</title>
  <description>A transfer is included from Bucharest Airport to the JW Marriott Bucharest Grand Hotel in the heart of the city. Meet your fellow travelers
and Tauck Directors at tonight&apos;s welcome reception and dinner at your elegant city-center hotel near Bucharest&apos;s stunning People&apos;s Palace.
</description>
  <overnight>JW Marriott Bucharest Grand Hotel, Bucharest, Romania</overnight>
  <meals>Dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="2">
  <title>Castles and monasteries in Romania </title>
  <description>On a choice of sightseeing in Romania today, you may opt for a full
day&apos;s excursion to tour Peles Castle in Sinaia, built for Romania&apos;s
royal family in the 1880s. Or take off on a morning visit to isolated Snagov Monastery – set on
a tiny island in the middle of a lake, and said to be the final resting
place of Vlad Tepes, the historical model for the character of Dracula. Dinner is on your own tonight.
</description>
  <overnight>JW Marriott Bucharest Grand Hotel, Bucharest, Romania </overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="3">
  <title>&amp;bull; Bucharest or the Black Sea before boarding</title>
  <description>More choices in sightseeing await you today. Before embarking your
riverboat, you can choose to explore Bucharest and tour the massive
People&apos;s Palace – home to the Romanian Parliament, and the world&apos;s
second-largest building after the Pentagon – as well as visit the
Romanian Athenaeum. Or drive to the resort town of Mamaia, set at the
edge of the Black Sea, and stroll along Europe&apos;s only pure-white sand
beaches. Then travel to Cernavoda and board ms Swiss Sapphire or ms Swiss Jewel to launch the cruise portion of your Danube, Main and Rhine river tour.
</description>
  <overnight>Cruising aboard the Riverboat</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="4">
  <title>&amp;bull; Big day in Bulgaria</title>
  <description>Arrive in Ruse, Bulgaria, for excursions to nearby towns. In Arbanassi,
known for its richly ornamented architecture, you&apos;ll have an
opportunity to meet and share local specialties with your Bulgarian
contemporaries at a private, home-hosted lunch. Continue on to
Bulgaria&apos;s medieval capital of Veliko Turnovo, whose ancient walled
fortress and castle are set atop three hills overlooking the Yantra
River. Rejoin the riverboat in Svishtov, and enjoy a Bulgarian cultural
performance aboard ship this evening.
</description>
  <overnight>Cruising aboard the Riverboat</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="5">
  <title>&amp;bull; Danube cruising and Iconography Demonstration</title>
  <description>Kick back and enjoy the views of fields and vineyards studded with
medieval towns as your Danube, Main and Rhine river tour cruises through the scenic
heartland of Eastern Europe today. Learn all about Iconography during
an on-board lecture and demonstration prior to arriving in Vidin, where
you can join us for a walking tour through its cobblestone streets.
</description>
  <overnight>Cruising aboard the Riverboat</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="6">
  <title>&amp;bull; King Decebalus and the Iron Gate of the Danube</title>
  <description>On another relaxing day on your Danube cruise, sail along the Bulgarian
/ Romanian border, enjoying great views of the Transylvanian Alps. As
you glide along, keep an eye out for a kingly face carved into the Danube&apos;s
rocky bank on the Romanian side; it&apos;s a monument to the 2nd-century
Dacian King Decebalus, who defended his kingdom from the invading
Romans – and it&apos;s the tallest rock sculpture in Europe. Glide through
Romania’s Kazan Narrows and the Iron Gate of the Danube, a spectacular
two-mile-long series of gorges between the Carpathian and Balkan
Mountains, en route to Serbia.
</description>
  <overnight>Cruising aboard the Riverboat</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="7">
  <title>&amp;bull; Serbia&apos;s cosmopolitan capital, Belgrade</title>
  <description>Dock in Belgrade, Serbia&apos;s modern capital at the juncture of the Danube
and Sava rivers. Sightseeing includes visits to Tito&apos;s Memorial, St.
Sava Church, and the formidable Kalemegdan Fortress. Also view busy
Slavija Square (now one of the city&apos;s major squares, but once a large
pool where residents hunted wild ducks!), Parliament, Republic Square
and City Hall. Return to the riverboat, where a Serbian folkloric group
entertains you this evening.
</description>
  <overnight>Cruising aboard the Riverboat</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="8">
  <title>&amp;bull; Discover Croatia&apos;s historic cities</title>
  <description>Your lower Danube cruise crosses the border from Serbia to Croatia and
arrives in historic Vukovar. A mix of old and new, this venerable
10th-century city once showcased opulent 18th-century Baroque mansions,
and now poignantly symbolizes the effects of the 1990s war as it
rebuilds. Continue this extraordinary Danube, Main and Rhine river tour to Hungary tonight.
</description>
  <overnight>Cruising aboard the Riverboat</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="9">
  <title>&amp;bull; Baroque treasures, horses and folkways in Hungary</title>
  <description>Sail along the Danube to Kalocsa, Hungary – known for its
folk art and its paprika – where you&apos;ll visit the beautiful Baroque
Bishop’s Palace Library, housing one of the finest early collections in
Europe. Then visit the Equestrian Center in Solt to see colorfully garbed Puszta horsemen
demonstrating traditional skills; ride a horse-drawn wagon back to the
riverboat, and enjoy a cocktail reception and
dinner aboard ship tonight.
</description>
  <overnight>Cruising aboard the Riverboat</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="10">
  <title>&amp;bull; Indulge at a spa or explore Budapest</title>
  <description>Cruise to Budapest, Hungary’s capital city divided into two sections by the Danube; you can spend a relaxing day on a visit to one of the city&apos;s famous spa, or join us for some guided sightseeing among the landmark sites of this fascinating city as your Danube, Main and Rhine river tour sails on.
</description>
  <overnight>Cruising aboard the Riverboat</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="11">
  <title>&amp;bull; Discover Budapest on the Danube up close</title>
  <description>Explore both sections of Budapest – Buda and Pest – on a sightseeing tour today. Sites include Heroes’ Square, bounded by some of the finest architectural works in Hungary; the Parliament building, a neo-Gothic masterpiece; Fishermen’s Bastion; and 700-year-old Matthias Church, with its famous stained-glass windows. Note: Matthias Church may be closed on some departures due to services.
</description>
  <overnight>Cruising aboard the Riverboat</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="12">
  <title>&amp;bull; Baroque in Bratislava</title>
  <description>Today&apos;s port of call is Bratislava, capital of Slovakia, where 17
centuries of history are chronicled on a walking tour. Highlights are
Baroque palaces from the Habsburg era, St. Martin&apos;s Cathedral, the
Opera House, Slovak Philharmonic Hall, and a visit to the Old Town
Hall. Back on board the riverboat, Slovakian performers entertain you
after dinner; continue your Danube, Main and Rhine river tour to
Vienna this evening.
</description>
  <overnight>Cruising aboard the Riverboat</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="13">
  <title>&amp;bull; Music and more in Imperial Vienna</title>
  <description>Get an overview of grand old Vienna, Austria, with a morning
sightseeing tour of this historic city, once the center of Europe&apos;s
Habsburg empire. Then take your choice of a tour of grandiose
Schönbrunn Palace, built to rival Versailles, or a visit to the
Imperial Silver Room inside the Hofburg – the former Imperial Palace
and today the residence of Austria&apos;s president. Tonight, you&apos;ll receive
the royal treatment with a private Imperial Evening at a traditional
palace in Vienna featuring a sumptuous dinner and live Viennese music.
</description>
  <overnight>Cruising aboard the Riverboat</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="14">
  <title>&amp;bull; Medieval Austrian abbeys and castles</title>
  <description>Your riverboat continues along the Danube to Dürnstein, whose twisting
medieval lanes you&apos;ll explore on a walking tour. High above the town
lie the ruins of Kuenringerburg, the castle where English King Richard
the Lionhearted was held prisoner during the Crusades; an invigorating
walk up the hill to the ruins leads to beautiful vistas of the river,
town and surrounding countryside. Enjoy more great views of castles and
lush vineyards from the top deck or through the panoramic windows of
your riverboat while cruising through the wine-growing Wachau Valley.
Stop in Melk for a guided tour of its 900-year-old Benedictine Abbey,
perched on a rocky outcrop above the river. Inside this Baroque
masterpiece are fine frescoes, early manuscripts, and a high altar.
Your evening aboard the riverboat includes a wine tasting and a
performance by local entertainers.
</description>
  <overnight>Cruising aboard the Riverboat</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="15">
  <title>&amp;bull; Explore Baroque Passau and cruise the Danube</title>
  <description>After crossing the border from Austria to Germany, dock in the Bavarian
town of Passau, set on the Danube and Inn rivers, whose history dates back
to the days of the Roman empire. A walking tour reveals the Baroque
treasures of this lovely riverside town, known for its stained glass, its many churches and its unique architecture. Your Danube, Main and Rhine river tour
continues as the riverboat sails to Regensburg.
</description>
  <overnight>Cruising aboard the Riverboat</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="16">
  <title>&amp;bull; Along the Danube to ancient Regensburg</title>
  <description>It&apos;s on to the well-preserved medieval town of Regensburg, once a
campsite for the Roman legions, today. Our local guide leads you on a
delightful walking tour of Old Town including the Steinerne Brücke over
the Danube, the oldest stone bridge in Germany; massive Dom St. Peter,
the town&apos;s 14th-century Gothic cathedral; and Altes Rathaus, the
15th-century town hall that was once the seat of the Imperial Diet.
</description>
  <overnight>Cruising aboard the Riverboat</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="17">
  <title>&amp;bull; Main-Danube Canal &amp;amp; Nürnberg</title>
  <description>Today your riverboat negotiates the Main-Danube
Canal, which makes your Danube, Main and Rhine river tour possible, ultimately linking the North Sea with the Black Sea; learn
about the canal&apos;s history from a local expert during your transit. The
idea goes back as far as Charlemagne, but wasn&apos;t realized until the
canal&apos;s completion in the 1990s; pass through 16 locks as the waterway
traverses the mountains. Arrive in
historic Nürnberg; see the city&apos;s sites associated with World War II
and its aftermath, followed by a walking tour of the walled medieval
Old Town. Sample Nürnberg&apos;s traditional sausage at dinner aboard the
riverboat tonight.
</description>
  <overnight>Cruising aboard the Riverboat</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="18">
  <title>&amp;bull; Bound for Bamberg</title>
  <description>Awaken in Bavaria&apos;s charming town of Bamberg, a UNESCO World Heritage
Site situated atop seven hills. See the town’s magnificent 13th-century
cathedral with four imposing towers, its lovely gardens, and its unique
medieval architecture during a walking tour and time to explore as you
please.
</description>
  <overnight>Cruising aboard the Riverboat</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="19">
  <title>&amp;bull; Treasures of Rothenburg and W&amp;uuml;rzburg</title>
  <description>Today&apos;s travels take you to medieval Rothenburg, on Germany&apos;s &amp;quot;Romantic
Road,&amp;quot; to see its Gothic cathedrals and gabled houses. In charming
Würzburg, discover the town&apos;s 18th-century Residenz and the ornate Alte
Mainbrücke, a historic bridge over the River Main. And you&apos;ll know you&apos;re
cruising through Bavaria when an oompa band plays for you aboard the
riverboat this evening!
</description>
  <overnight>Cruising aboard the Riverboat</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="20">
  <title>&amp;bull; Cruising the Main to Miltenberg</title>
  <description>Meander along the River Main, through through scenic valleys studded
with castles, cathedrals, and fortified towns, to the ancient town of
Miltenberg; en route, enjoy an on-board glassblowing demonstration by
practitioners of this time-honored craft. Enclosed by a wall with gate
towers under a steep hill crowned by a castle, Miltenberg boasts many
half-timbered houses and a charming Marktplatz.
</description>
  <overnight>Cruising aboard the Riverboat</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="21">
  <title>&amp;bull; From the Main to the Rhine &amp;amp; R&amp;uuml;desheim</title>
  <description>Leave the Main River behind you today as your riverboat – and your Rhine River tour – continues on to Rüdesheim. A visit to Siegfrieds Mechanisches Musikkabinett
– an eclectic collection of mechanical musical instruments housed in a
15th-century castle in Rüdesheim – precedes tonight&apos;s entertaining
dinner in a local German restaurant with an old-world ambiance.
</description>
  <overnight>Cruising aboard the Riverboat</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="22">
  <title>&amp;bull; Koblenz or castles &amp;amp; K&amp;ouml;ln, a.k.a. Cologne</title>
  <description>Arrive in Koblenz, where you can choose a walking tour of its Old Town
or a visit to Marksburg Castle; set high above the Rhine, it dates back
to the 13th century and offers a taste of medieval life. Your Rhine
River tour continues through the scenic Lorelei Valley, a UNESCO
World Heritage Site, to Köln (Cologne). A guided walking tour includes
the lofty Kölner Dom, elaborately decorated with pinnacles and
buttresses; the tallest Gothic structure in the world, it took over 600
years to complete. Have a great time celebrating a remarkable three-week cruise at
the Captain&apos;s farewell dinner aboard the riverboat tonight.
</description>
  <overnight>Cruising aboard the Riverboat</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="23">
  <title>&amp;bull; Art and more in Amsterdam</title>
  <description>Dock in Amsterdam, capital of the Netherlands, where you&apos;ll take a
close-up look at acclaimed works by the Dutch Masters – including
Rembrandt&apos;s The Night Watch and many others – at the
world-renowned Rijksmuseum. Then enjoy views of medieval architecture
on a sightseeing cruise along Amsterdam’s 17th-century canals, and
spend time exploring this fascinating city as you please.
</description>
  <overnight>Cruising aboard the Riverboat</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="24">
  <title>Homeward bound</title>
  <description>		Your Danube, Main, and Rhine river tour ends in Amsterdam, Netherlands.
Disembark your riverboat in Amsterdam; a transfer is included from ms Swiss Sapphire or ms Swiss Jewel to
Amsterdam&apos;s Schiphol Airport. Allow 2 1/2 hours for departure flight
check-in.
</description>
  <overnight></overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast</meals>
</itineraryDay>
  </itineraryDetails>
  <highlights>
		
				Bucharest ~ Belgrade ~ Budapest ~ Bratislava ~ Vienna ~ Köln ~ Amsterdam 
</highlights>
  <tauckValues>
    <value order="1">Gratuities to ship staff, drivers, local guides, Tauck Directors and Tauck Cruise Director</value><value order="2">All private Tauck shore excursions  $1,554 Value!</value><value order="3">Two nights at the Athne Palace Hilton Bucharest</value><value order="4">A private Imperial Evening at a traditional palace in Vienna featuring dinner and Viennese performers</value><value order="5">Memorable visits to Melk Abbey, Klner Dom, and Siegfrieds Mechanisches Musikkabinett in Rdesheim</value><value order="6">A horse-drawn wagon ride to an equestrian center in Hungary for a demonstration of cultural traditions</value><value order="7">Choice of visits to Peles Castle or Snagov Monastery</value><value order="8">Guided sightseeing in the European cultural capitals of Vienna, Bucharest, Budapest, Belgrade and Bratislava</value><value order="9">23 breakfasts, 22 lunches &amp; 22 dinners. Some meals in local restaurants; wine with dinner on the riverboat</value><value order="10">Service charges, taxes, porterage, airport transfers and applicable fuel surcharges</value>
  </tauckValues>  
  <departureDates>
    <date>
    <day>12</day>
    <month>10</month>
    <year>2010</year>
    <singlesPrice>10746</singlesPrice>
    <doublesPrice>8390</doublesPrice>
    <triplesPrice>13310</triplesPrice>
    <quadsPrice>0</quadsPrice>
    <cabins>
<cabin>
  <categoryCode>RXW20101</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>1</occupancy>
  <description>Cat 1, Base Double *Emerald</description>
  <suppliment>0</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>10746</totalPrice>
</cabin>
<cabin>
  <categoryCode>RXW20101</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>2</occupancy>
  <description>Cat 1, Base Double *Emerald</description>
  <suppliment>0</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>8390</totalPrice>
</cabin>
<cabin>
  <categoryCode>RXW20103</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>1</occupancy>
  <description>Cat 3, Double *Ruby</description>
  <suppliment>3010</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>13756</totalPrice>
</cabin>
<cabin>
  <categoryCode>RXW20103</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>2</occupancy>
  <description>Cat 3, Double *Ruby</description>
  <suppliment>2150</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>10540</totalPrice>
</cabin>
<cabin>
  <categoryCode>RXW20105</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>1</occupancy>
  <description>Cat 5,Mini-Suite</description>
  <suppliment>10167</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>20913</totalPrice>
</cabin>
<cabin>
  <categoryCode>RXW20105</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>2</occupancy>
  <description>Cat 5,Mini-Suite</description>
  <suppliment>4500</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>12890</totalPrice>
</cabin>
<cabin>
  <categoryCode>RXW20106</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>1</occupancy>
  <description>Cat 6, Suite *Diamond</description>
  <suppliment>14397</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>25143</totalPrice>
</cabin>
<cabin>
  <categoryCode>RXW20106</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>2</occupancy>
  <description>Cat 6, Suite *Diamond</description>
  <suppliment>6400</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>14790</totalPrice>
</cabin></cabins>
  </date>

</departureDates>

</tour><tour>
  <sourceId>RYE2010</sourceId>
  <title>Prague to the Black Sea</title>
  <summary>
    <![CDATA[Tauck&apos;s 19-day journey through Europe&apos;s ancient heart – combining The Blue Danube and Budapest to the Black Sea and including an unforgettable 14-night luxury riverboat cruise along the Danube aboard either ms Swiss Sapphire or ms Swiss Jewel – offers the very best in Eastern Europe travel!
]]>
  </summary>
  <description>
    <![CDATA[Tauck&apos;s Prague to the Black Sea combines The Blue Danube with Budapest to the Black Sea
to create an unforgettable 19-day journey from Prague to the Black Sea
and Bucharest. Your journey features two nights each in Prague and
Bucharest at luxury hotels centrally located in the heart of the
cities, along with a two-week cruise aboard ms Swiss Sapphire or ms Swiss Jewel.
This ultimate Eastern Europe travel experience takes you to Germany,
the Czech Republic, Austria, Slovakia, Hungary, Croatia, Serbia,
Bulgaria and Romania. Glide past grand cathedrals, medieval
monasteries, and historic citadels – as well as through the fabled Iron
Gate of the Danube. Tauck’s private, all-included shore excursions
ensure in-depth exploration of cosmopolitan cities and picturesque
villages including Prague, Regensburg, Passau, Salzburg, Linz, Vienna,
Bratislava, Budapest, Belgrade and Bucharest. Enjoy special Tauck experiences including a welcome reception, tour and dinner at Lobkowicz Palace in Prague, a Puszta equestrian demonstration in Hungary, a home-hosted lunch in Bulgaria and an Imperial Evening in Vienna!
]]>
  </description>
  <link>http://www.tauck.com/tours/europe-tours/central-and-eastern-europe-tours/eastern-europe-travel-rye-2010</link>
  <durationDays>19</durationDays>
  <durationDetails>19 days and 18 nights.</durationDetails>
  <tripType>ESCORTED_TOUR</tripType>
  <brand>Riverboats</brand>
  <subbrand>Riverboat</subbrand>
  <gradeRating>ALL_AGES</gradeRating>
  <comfortRating>COMFORTABLE_MIXED</comfortRating>
  <startingLocation>Prague, Czech Republic</startingLocation>
  <prices>
    <price currency="USD">7790</price>
    <priceDetails><![CDATA[All prices are per person in U.S. dollars. ]]></priceDetails>
  </prices>
  <images>
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  <itinerary>
    <![CDATA[
		
Tauck’s Prague to the Black Sea from Prague to Bucharest combines The Blue Danube and Budapest to the Black Sea. Departures run east and west, and are similar. 
 
Eastbound Itinerary
 
• = cruise day
 
1. Arrive Prague
Tour begins: 6:00 PM, Prague Marriott Hotel. A transfer is included from Ruzyne Airport to the Prague Marriott Hotel, a short walk from Old Town. We invite you to join us this evening for a welcome reception and dinner. Meals D
 
2. Discover Past &amp; Present Prague
In Prague’s Hradcany (Castle) District, visit the Cathedral of St. Vitus, and take an exclusive private tour of the Strahov Monastery libraries. Spend the afternoon as you wish or join us to discover the Astronomical Clock and other Prague icons on a guided walking tour of Old Town. Meals BD
 
• 3. Regensburg / Embark Riverboat
In the ancient Bavarian town of Regensburg, a walking tour shows you 12th-century Steinerne Brücke, towering Dom St. Peter, and the remains of the town’s Roman wall. Board your luxury riverboat this afternoon. Meals BD
 
• 4. A Day in Passau
After a morning spent cruising through pastoral German landscapes, arrive in Passau for a walking tour of this hillside Bavarian town; continue cruising to Linz, Austria. Meals BLD
 
• 5. Salzburg and Linz
You have a choice today – enjoy Linz or join us on an excursion to Salzburg, visiting Mirabell Gardens. Rejoin the ship for dinner and a classical music performance this evening. Meals BLD
 
• 6. Wachau Valley Cruise / Dürnstein
Cruise through the medieval landscapes of the Wachau Valley to Dürnstein for a walking tour and wine tasting. Castle ruins high above town afford lovely river vistas. Meals BLD
 
• 7. The Imperial City of Vienna
Vienna inspires romantic visions of “Old Europe.” Tauck’s sightseeing includes your choice of a Schönbrunn Palace visit or the Hofburg’s Imperial Silver Room. Tonight, enjoy a private Imperial Evening in a palace! Meals BLD
 
• 8. Vienna / Cruise to Slovakia
Spend time pursuing what interests you most in Austria’s grand capital city – home to more than 100 museums – before setting off on an afternoon cruise to Slovakia; Slovakian entertainment follows dinner tonight. Meals BLD
 
• 9. Bratislava / Danube Cruise
Gain insights about 17 centuries’ worth of history on a Bratislava walking tour, including a visit to the Old Town Hall. Join the Captain and crew this evening for a cocktail reception and dinner aboard your riverboat. Meals BLD
 
• 10. Fascinating Budapest
Today’s sightseeing in Hungary’s fascinating capital on the Danube includes Heroes’ Square and Fishermen’s Bastion. Later, explore on your own, or perhaps visit one of the city’s famous spas. Tonight, your riverboat cruises to Solt, Hungary. Meals BLD
 
• 11. Visit Solt &amp; Kalocsa, Hungary
Ride a horse-drawn wagon to the Equestrian Center, where Hungarian craftsmen and Puszta horsemen demonstrate their traditional skills. See one of Europe’s finest libraries in the Bishop’s Palace in Kalocsa. Meals BLD
 
• 12. Cruise to Vukovar, Croatia 
Arrive in Croatia today; visit the fortified city of Osijek and the Baroque port city of Vukovar, which poignantly illustrates the effects of the 1990s war. Meals BLD
 
• 13. Belgrade, Serbia’s Capital
After cruising into Serbia, your morning begins dockside in the capital, Belgrade; sightseeing includes visits to Tito’s
Memorial, St. Sava Church, and Kalemegdan Fortress; see Parliament, City Hall, and Slavija Square. Meals BLD
 
• 14. Iron Gate of the Danube 
Spend a day on the Danube, cruising through the Kazan Narrows and the celebrated Iron Gate to Bulgaria. See the monument to King Decebalus, Europe’s tallest rock sculpture; enjoy great views of the Transylvanian Alps. Meals BLD
 
• 15. Welcome to Bulgaria
Cruise to Svishtov, Bulgaria, for cultural excursions into nearby Bulgarian towns. Explore Veliko Turnovo, the former medieval capital on the Yantra River. In nearby Arbanassi, sample local cuisine with your Bulgarian contemporaries at a memorable home-hosted lunch. Meals BLD
 
• 16. Romania’s Black Sea Coast
From the port of Cernavoda, travel to the popular Romanian Black Sea resorts of Constanta and Mamaia, the latter boasting the only pure-white sand beaches in Europe. We invite you to join us this evening for the Captain’s farewell cocktail reception and dinner. Meals BLD
 
17. Disembark Ship / Bucharest
After disembarking your riverboat in Cernavoda, travel through the Romanian countryside to the capital city of Bucharest for a two-night stay. Explore Bucharest on a sightseeing tour that includes Revolution Square, a visit to the People’s Palace – the world’s second-largest building after the Pentagon – and the granite Triumphal Arch, a smaller but exact copy of Paris’ Arc de Triomphe. Meals BLD
 
18. Peles Castle / Snagov Monastery
From Bucharest, take a full day excursion to fairy-tale Peles Castle in Sinaia, a grand palace built for Romania’s royal family in the 1880s. Or choose a visit by boat to isolated Snagov Monastery; set on a tiny island in the middle of a lake, it is the reputed burial place of Vlad Tepes, the original model for the character Dracula. Meals BLD
 
19. Journey Home
Tour ends: Bucharest, Romania. A transfer is included from the Athénée Palace Hilton Bucharest to Bucharest Airport; allow 2 1/2 hours for flight check-in. Meals B





]]>
  </itinerary>
  <itineraryDetails>
    <itineraryDay day="1">
  <title>Arrive Prague</title>
  <description>Tour begins: 6:00 PM, Prague Marriott Hotel. A transfer is included from Prague’s Ruzyne Airport to the Prague Marriott Hotel, ranked among the Top 100 Best Luxury Hotels of the World, for a memorable two-night stay in the historic “city of a hundred spires.” Tauck brings you inside Prague’s soaring cathedrals and grand palaces during your visit, beginning with a royal welcome reception, tour and dinner at the 16th-century Lobkowicz Palace at Prague Castle, where a classical quartet and privileged views of the city’s cultural treasures enchant inside and out.</description>
  <overnight>Prague Marriott Hotel, Prague, Czech Republic</overnight>
  <meals>Dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="2">
  <title>Discover Past &amp; Present Prague</title>
  <description>Exquisite examples of European architecture await on a guided excursion that takes you to the Hradcany (Castle) district and the magnificent Gothic Cathedral of St. Vitus. An exclusive private tour of the grand libraries of Strahov Monastery is sure to be a highlight of your day. Spend time at leisure exploring the nooks and crannies off the courtyards and squares of Prague’s winding cobblestone streets, or join us on a walking tour through ethereal Old Town; see the famous Astronomical Clock, Tyn Church, iconic Charles Bridge and Wenceslas Square. Lantern-lit streets set the mood for dinner on your own tonight, tempting with cafés and restaurants that serve up the region’s best schnitzels, dumplings, strudels, goulashes and beer.</description>
  <overnight>Prague Marriott Hotel, Prague, Czech Republic</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="3">
  <title>Regensburg / Embark Riverboat</title>
  <description>Drive to the quintessential Bavarian town of Regensburg, Germany, nestled on the banks of the River Danube. Walking here is a delight and is the only way to view its historic sights up-close. A local guide will lead the way as you see the town’s 12th-century Steinerne Brücke (Germany’s oldest surviving stone bridge), the 15th-century Altes Rathaus (Town Hall), towering Dom St. Peter, and the remains of the Roman wall. Enjoy lunch on your own – this medieval town is famous for its Bavarian sausage – before embarking ms Swiss Sapphire or ms Swiss Jewel for the start of your 7-night cruise.</description>
  <overnight>Cruising aboard the Riverboat</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="4">
  <title>Picturesque Passau</title>
  <description>One of our guests happily remarked that this riverboat cruise is like taking a magic carpet ride through a parade of picturesque places, getting on and off in towns that beg to be explored. An early arrival in Passau this morning lets you do just that when we disembark for a walking tour with a local guide whose love for his hometown makes your visit even more special. Pedestrian walkways take you through tunnels and archways, Baroque houses and ancient cobblestone streets in this hilly town. See the Altes Rathaus and Old Town before cruising to Linz, Austria.</description>
  <overnight>Cruising aboard the Riverboat</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="5">
  <title>Salzburg and Linz</title>
  <description>Your boat stays docked in Linz today, giving you the opportunity to visit the town as you wish or join us for a full-day excursion to Salzburg on the Salzach River, the celebrated hometown of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. A parade of beautiful Baroque architecture, painted wrought-iron signage, ornate church towers and grand palaces paves the way for your visits to Mozart’s birthplace and lovely Mirabell Gardens. Rejoin the ship for dinner and a wonderful classical music performance.</description>
  <overnight>Cruising aboard the Riverboat</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="6">
  <title>Wachau Valley Cruise / Durnstein</title>
  <description>On-board commentary enriches this morning’s leisurely cruise past lush vineyards, fairy-tale castles and ancient monasteries in the Wachau Valley, declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its well-preserved medieval landscapes – it is the perfect scenic appetizer for your stop in the charming little village of Dürnstein in Austria’s wine country. Take a closer look at its 16th-century Baroque houses and 13th-century Romanesque church as you stroll down its one main street or take an invigorating climb up the steps to the ruins of hilltop Kuenringerburg Castle for great views. A wine tasting back in town at an authentic tavern celebrates local cultural traditions and new friendships.</description>
  <overnight>Cruising aboard the Riverboat</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="7">
  <title>The Imperial City of Vienna</title>
  <description>Wake up in Vienna, inspiring romantic visions of “Old Europe.” A choice of sightseeing today features a tour of the Habsburgs’ Schönbrunn Palace, resplendent with history, or the Imperial Silver Room at the Hofburg, Austria’s official presidential residence. Nothing quite compares to the royal treatment – and pageantry – you will experience tonight at our private Imperial Evening in a traditional Viennese palace; from a spectacle of beautiful ball gowns and elegant finery to a musical performance alive with the spirit of Mozart, you’ll feel like you could dance all night.</description>
  <overnight>Cruising aboard the Riverboat</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="8">
  <title>Vienna / Cruise to Slovakia</title>
  <description>Spend time this morning as you wish discovering the Vienna you have dreamed of in your mind’s eye. Join us back on the ship for lunch and an afternoon cruise to neighboring Slovakia. Dinner tonight introduces you to a glimpse of daily life in Slovakia with a taste of regional cuisine and an on-board performance by a talented troupe of Slovakian dancers who welcome you to Bratislava in authentic dress.</description>
  <overnight>Cruising aboard the Riverboat</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="9">
  <title>Bratislava / Danube Cruise</title>
  <description>Our local expert will share insider anecdotes about Bratislava before you embark on a walking tour of this vehicle-free, cobblestoned city. See 17 centuries of history eloquently chronicled in its 13th-century Old Town Hall, Baroque Habsburg-era palaces, the Opera House, Slovak Philharmonic Hall, and St. Martin’s Cathedral, site of the coronation of many Hungarian kings and queens, and sample some of Slovakia’s delectable almond pastry at a local café. Back on board ship, get ready to celebrate tomorrow’s arrival in Budapest – with our gala Captain’s reception and dinner.</description>
  <overnight>Cruising aboard the Riverboat</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="10">
  <title>Fascinating Budapest</title>
  <description>Spend time in Budapest where you will see Heroes’ Square and Fishermen’s Bastion on a city tour, or indulge in a spa visit. Reboard your riverboat for a cruise along the Lower Danube.</description>
  <overnight>Cruising aboard the Riverboat</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="11">
  <title>Solt / Kalocsa</title>
  <description>Take a horse-drawn wagon ride to the Equestrian Center, where local craftsmen and traditional Puszta horsemen demonstrate their skills. Your riverboat cruises to Kalocsa this afternoon, celebrated for its paprika and folk art. Visit the magnificent Rococo-style paneled library in the 18th-century Baroque Bishop’s Palace, considered one of the finest libraries in Europe, and attend a wine tasting at a Hungarian winery before rejoining the riverboat.</description>
  <overnight>Cruising aboard the Riverboat</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="12">
  <title>Cruise to Croatia </title>
  <description>An on-board lecture about the diverse events and cultural influences that have contributed to Croatia’s turbulent history sets the stage for your visit to the 10th-century city of Vukovar, rebuilding after the 1990s war. Vukovar was renowned for its elegant 18th-century Baroque mansions, and today is a mix of old and new. Cruise to Serbia this afternoon, with commentary from your Tauck Director.</description>
  <overnight>Cruising aboard the Riverboat</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="13">
  <title>Belgrade, Serbia&apos;s Capital</title>
  <description>Awaken dockside in Belgrade, the cosmopolitan capital of Serbia; the city’s roots date back to a Celtic settlement in 3 BC. A lecture aboard ship paves the way for a guided sightseeing tour that includes visits to Tito’s Memorial, St. Sava Church, and Kalemegdan Fortress; see Slavija Square, Parliament, City Hall, Republic Square and the National Theatre. You’ll have time on your own before returning to the riverboat, where this evening a music and dance presentation follows dinner.</description>
  <overnight>Cruising aboard the Riverboat</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="14">
  <title>Iron Gate of the Danube </title>
  <description>Activities on the riverboat throughout your cruise include special lectures and presentations, such as cooking demonstrations or music and dance performances. Spend a relaxing day cruising the Danube River through the scenic heartland of Eastern Europe. Pass through the Kazan Narrows and the Iron Gate, a series of narrow gorges where the Danube courses down from the towering Carpathian Mountains. Today you’ll see a monument to the 2nd-century Dacian King Decebalus carved into the Danube’s rocky bank. Europe’s tallest rock sculpture, it was completed in 2004 after a decade of work by a dozen sculptors. View the Transylvanian Alps as you cruise to Bulgaria.</description>
  <overnight>Cruising aboard the Riverboat</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="15">
  <title>Welcome to Bulgaria</title>
  <description>For those fascinated by the imagery and symbols in visual arts –and the subject of several popular novels –, there is an opportunity to attend a lecture and demonstration on Iconography this morning. Your riverboat arrives into Svishtov, Bulgaria, for culturally rich visits to nearby Bulgarian towns. Travel to Veliko Turnovo, which served as Bulgaria’s capital in medieval times – the sight of its ancient walled fortress and castle nestled atop three hills on the Yantra River is memorable. In the neighboring town of Arbanassi, sample local cuisine at a home-hosted private lunch, where you’ll have a unique opportunity to meet and dine with your Bulgarian contemporaries. The day ends back on board the riverboat with a special music and dance performance and a look at traditional Bulgarian customs.</description>
  <overnight>Cruising aboard the Riverboat</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="16">
  <title>Romania&apos;s Black Sea Coast</title>
  <description>Your riverboat arrives in Cernavoda, Romania, this morning for a day trip to the beautiful Black Sea coast. Take a guided tour of the resort city of Constanta, then visit the seaside resort of Mamaia, one of the largest on Romania’s coast. A popular vacation destination for over a century, Mamaia boasts the only beaches in Europe featuring fine, pure-white sand. Back on the riverboat, your cruise comes to an end this evening when we celebrate new knowledge, renewed inspiration and everlasting friendships at the Captain’s farewell cocktail reception and dinner.</description>
  <overnight>Cruising aboard the Riverboat</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="17">
  <title>Disembark Ship / Bucharest</title>
  <description>Disembark the riverboat in Cernavoda and travel through the Romanian countryside to Bucharest for a two-night stay. Following lunch at a local restaurant, a sightseeing tour of Romania’s capital, once regarded as “the Paris of the Balkans,” includes Revolution Square and the granite Triumphal Arch, a smaller copy of Paris’ Arc de Triomphe. Your day also features a visit to Bucharest’s huge People’s Palace, home to the Romanian Parliament; some parts of it are still unfinished! Your landmark hotel, Athénée Palace Hilton Bucharest, has played a role in Bucharest history since 1914; it is one of Romania’s top hotels.</description>
  <overnight>JW Marriott Bucharest Grand Hotel, Bucharest, Romania</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="18">
  <title>Peles Castle / Snagov Monastery</title>
  <description>You have a choice of sightseeing today. Take a full day excursion to tour fairy-tale Peles Castle in Sinaia (subject to weekly closures), built for the Romanian royal family in the 1880s. Alternatively, take a boat across Snagov Lake to tiny Snagov Island, the reputed burial place of Vlad the Impaler (inspiration for Bram Stoker’s Dracula).</description>
  <overnight>JW Marriott Bucharest Grand Hotel, Bucharest, Romania</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="19">
  <title>Journey Home</title>
  <description>Tour ends: Bucharest, Romania. A transfer from the Athénée Palace Hilton Bucharest to Bucharest Airport is included; allow 3 hours for flight check-in.</description>
  <overnight></overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast</meals>
</itineraryDay>
  </itineraryDetails>
  <highlights>		
Vienna ~ Bratislava ~ Budapest ~ Vukovar ~ Belgrade ~ Constanta ~ Bucharest 
</highlights>
  <tauckValues>
    <value order="1">Gratuities to ship staff, drivers, local guides, Tauck Directors and Tauck Cruise Director</value><value order="2">All private Tauck shore excursions – $1,330 Value!</value><value order="3">Two nights each in Prague &amp; Bucharest at 5-star hotels</value><value order="4">Tauck Exclusive – A private tour of the beautiful Baroque libraries of Strahov Monastery in Prague</value><value order="5">A welcome reception, tour and dinner with music in Lobkowicz Palace at Prague Castle</value><value order="6">A private Imperial Evening at a traditional palace in Vienna featuring dinner and Viennese performers</value><value order="7">Visits in Romania to the popular Black Sea resort of Mamaia, and Bucharest’s massive People’s Palace</value><value order="8">Passage through the fabled Iron Gate of the Danube</value><value order="9">Choice of visits to Peles Castle or Snagov Monastery</value><value order="10">18 breakfasts, 15 lunches and 16 dinners; select meals in local restaurants; wine with dinner on the riverboat</value><value order="11">Service charges, taxes, porterage, airport transfers and applicable fuel surcharges</value>
  </tauckValues>  
  
</tour><tour>
  <sourceId>RYW2010</sourceId>
  <title>The Black Sea to Prague</title>
  <summary>
    <![CDATA[		
Tauck&apos;s 19-day journey through Europe&apos;s ancient heart – combining The Blue Danube and Budapest to the Black Sea and including an unforgettable 14-night luxury riverboat cruise along the Danube aboard either ms Swiss Sapphire or ms Swiss Jewel – offers the ultimate eastern European tour!
]]>
  </summary>
  <description>
    <![CDATA[Tauck&apos;s The Black Sea to Prague combines The Black Sea to Budapest with The Blue Danube to create an unforgettable 19-day journey from Bucharest and the Black Sea coast to Prague. This ultimate European tour features two nights each in Prague and
Bucharest at 5-star hotels, centrally located in the heart of the
cities, along with a two-week cruise aboard ms Swiss Sapphire or ms Swiss Jewel – and takes you to Germany,
the Czech Republic, Austria, Slovakia, Hungary, Croatia, Serbia,
Bulgaria and Romania. Glide past grand cathedrals, medieval
monasteries, and historic citadels – as well as through the fabled Iron
Gate of the Danube. Tauck’s private, all-included shore excursions
ensure in-depth exploration of cosmopolitan cities and picturesque
villages including Prague, Regensburg, Passau, Salzburg, Linz, Vienna,
Bratislava, Budapest, Belgrade and Bucharest. Enjoy special Tauck
experiences including a Puszta equestrian demonstration in Hungary, a
home-hosted lunch in Bulgaria and an Imperial Evening in Vienna!
]]>
  </description>
  <link>http://www.tauck.com/tours/europe-tours/central-and-eastern-europe-tours/european-tour-ryw-2010</link>
  <durationDays>19</durationDays>
  <durationDetails>19 days and 18 nights.</durationDetails>
  <tripType>ESCORTED_TOUR</tripType>
  <brand>Riverboats</brand>
  <subbrand>Riverboat</subbrand>
  <gradeRating>ALL_AGES</gradeRating>
  <comfortRating>COMFORTABLE_MIXED</comfortRating>
  <startingLocation>Bucharest, Romania</startingLocation>
  <prices>
    <price currency="USD">7790</price>
    <priceDetails><![CDATA[All prices are per person in U.S. dollars. ]]></priceDetails>
  </prices>
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  </images>
  <itinerary>
    <![CDATA[
		
Tauck’s The Black Sea to Prague combines The Black Sea to Budapest and The Blue Danube. Departures run east and west, and are similar. 
 
Westbound Itinerary
 
• = cruise day
 
1. Arrive Bucharest
Tour begins: 6:00 PM, Athénée Palace Hilton Bucharest. Welcome to Bucharest! A transfer is included from the Bucharest Airport to the Athénée Palace Hilton Bucharest, a city landmark since 1914. We invite you to join us this evening for a welcome reception and dinner. Meals D
 
2. Peles Castle / Snagov Monastery
You have a choice of sightseeing today. Take a full day excursion to fairy-tale Peles Castle in Sinaia, built for Romania’s royal family in the 1880s. Or choose a visit to Snagov Monastery, the reputed burial place of Vlad Tepes, the historic model for the original Dracula. Meals BLD
 
• 3. Discover Bucharest / Embark Ship 
More choices await you today. You can explore Bucharest on a sightseeing tour, and visit the massive People’s Palace and the Romanian Athenaeum. Or set off on an excursion to the popular Black Sea resort of Mamaia before boarding the riverboat at Cernavoda. Meals BLD
 
• 4. Welcome to Bulgaria
Visit Veliko Turnovo, Bulgaria’s old medieval capital. In Arbanassi, sample local cuisine and meet Bulgarian contemporaries at a home-hosted lunch. Enjoy an on-board performance by local entertainers tonight. Meals BLD
 
• 5. Cruising the Danube / Vidin 
Enjoy a relaxing morning’s cruise; in Vidin, attend a shipboard lecture and demonstration on Iconography. Meals BLD
 
• 6. Full Day Cruising / Iron Gate
A full day’s cruise along Bulgaria’s border with Romania takes you past the Iron Gate of the Danube and the rock sculpture of King Decebalus. Enjoy great views of the Transylvanian Alps; cross into Serbia this afternoon. Meals BLD
 
• 7. Belgrade, Serbia’s Capital
Your morning begins dockside in Belgrade, the capital of Serbia. Sightseeing includes visits to Tito’s Memorial, St. Sava Church, and Kalemegdan Fortress; see the Serbian Parliament and Belgrade’s bustling Slavija Square. Meals BLD
 
• 8. Cruise to Croatia 
Discover Croatia’s storied history in the fortified city of Osijek and in the 1,100-year-old port city of Vukovar, poignantly illustrating the effects of the 1990s war. Meals BLD
 
• 9. Kalocsa / Solt
Dock at Kalocsa, Hungary; visit the beautiful Library in the Bishop’s Palace. Watch traditional Puszta horsemen demonstrate their skills, and enjoy a horse-drawn carriage ride. Join us for cocktails and dinner aboard ship tonight. Meals BLD
 
• 10. Fascinating Budapest 
Arrive in Budapest, Hungary’s cosmopolitan capital on both sides of the Danube. Discover the city during a sightseeing tour that includes patriotic Heroes’ Square and iconic Fishermen’s Bastion, and explore on your own. Meals BLD
 
• 11. Danube Cruise / Bratislava 
Cruise the Danube to Bratislava, Slovakia. A guided walking tour chronicling nearly 17 centuries of history in Slovakia’s ancient capital includes Habsburg-era palaces and a visit to the city’s 13th-century Old Town Hall. Meals BLD
 
• 12. The Imperial City of Vienna
A day in grand old Vienna, Austria, includes a choice of a visit to Schönbrunn Palace or the Hofburg’s Imperial Silver Room. Receive the royal treatment tonight at a gala, private Imperial Evening in a traditional palace. Meals BLD
 
• 13. Vienna / Cruise to Dürnstein
Spend time exploring Vienna as you wish before an afternoon cruise to Dürnstein in Austria’s wine country. Meals BLD
 
• 14. Dürnstein / Wachau Valley Cruise
Take a guided walking tour of Dürnstein’s cobblestone streets prior to a delightful wine tasting. Cruise through the medieval landscapes of the Wachau Valley. Meals BLD
 
• 15. Salzburg and Linz
You have a choice today – enjoy Linz, Austria, or join us on an excursion to W.A. Mozart’s hometown of Salzburg, visiting Mirabell Gardens. Rejoin the ship for dinner. Meals BLD
 
• 16. Passau / Cruising the Danube
Arrive in Passau for a walking tour of this Bavarian town known for its stained glass, and a wealth of churches and Baroque treasures. Spend the rest of the day cruising through Germany’s pastoral landscapes to Regensburg. Meals BLD
 
17. Regensburg / Prague
Disembark your riverboat in Regensburg, where a walking tour reveals Germany’s oldest surviving stone bridge, 15th-century Altes Rathaus, and towering Dom St. Peter. Depart for a two-night stay in Prague. Meals BD
 
18. Prague, Past and Present
Your discovery of Prague begins in the Hradcany (Castle) district, home to 1,000-year-old Prague Castle. Visit the Cathedral of St. Vitus and enjoy a Tauck Exclusive – a private guided tour of the beautiful Baroque libraries of Strahov Monastery. Later, explore Prague on your own or come along on a walking tour of ethereal Old Town; see the Astronomical Clock, Charles Bridge and Wenceslas Square. Join us tonight for a farewell dinner at your hotel, one of the Top 100 Best Luxury Hotels of the World. Meals BD
 
19. Journey Home
Tour Ends: Prague, Czech Republic. A transfer is included from the Prague Marriott Hotel to Prague’s Ruzyne Airport; allow a minimum of 2 1/2 hours for flight check-in. Meals B
]]>
  </itinerary>
  <itineraryDetails>
    <itineraryDay day="1">
  <title>Arrive Bucharest</title>
  <description>Tour begins: 6:00 PM, Athénée Palace Hilton Bucharest. A transfer is included from the Bucharest Airport to the Athénée Palace Hilton Bucharest in the heart of the city; a living piece of Bucharest history since 1914, it was recently named Romania’s Leading Hotel. Please join us this evening for a welcome reception and dinner.</description>
  <overnight>Athénée Palace Hilton Bucharest, Romania</overnight>
  <meals>Dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="2">
  <title>Peles Castle / Snagov Monastery</title>
  <description>You have a choice of sightseeing today. Take a full-day excursion to Sinaia, Transylvania, and a tour of fairy-tale Peles Castle (subject to weekly closures), built for the Romanian royal family in the 1880s; or choose a morning visit to isolated Snagov Monastery, reputed to be the burial place of the historical model for Dracula.</description>
  <overnight>Athénée Palace Hilton Bucharest, Romania </overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="3">
  <title>Discover Bucharest / Embark Ship </title>
  <description>More sightseeing choices await you prior to embarking on your cruise later today. You can choose to explore historic Bucharest on a sightseeing tour including visits to the massive People’s Palace – the world’s second-largest building after the Pentagon – and the Romanian Athenaeum. Or drive to the popular seaside resort of Mamaia on Romania’s Black Sea coast, home to Europe’s only pure-white sand beaches, before boarding your riverboat at Cernavoda to begin your Danube River cruise.</description>
  <overnight>Cruising aboard the Riverboat</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="4">
  <title>Welcome to Bulgaria</title>
  <description>Cruise to Ruse, Bulgaria, today for cultural excursions into nearby Bulgarian towns. Sample local cuisine at a memorable home-hosted private lunch in Arbanassi, where you’ll have a unique opportunity to meet and dine with your Bulgarian contemporaries. Travel to neighboring medieval Veliko Turnovo, with its ancient walled fortress and castle nestled atop three hills on the Yantra River. After rejoining your riverboat in Svishtov to continue your cruise this evening, you’ll be entertained by local Bulgarian performers aboard ship.</description>
  <overnight>Cruising aboard the Riverboat</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="5">
  <title>Cruising the Blue Danube / Vidin </title>
  <description>There’s something special about just “kicking back” and watching the scenic heartland of Eastern Europe unfold during a leisurely morning cruising the Danube, enjoying picture-perfect views of the passing landscapes. Attend an on-board lecture and demonstration on Iconography before joining us for a walking tour in Vidin on cobblestone streets, including a visit to the fort.</description>
  <overnight>Cruising aboard the Riverboat</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="6">
  <title>Full Day Cruising / Iron Gate</title>
  <description>Enjoy a full day’s cruise along Bulgaria’s border with Romania, gliding through the Kazan Narrows and the Iron Gate of the Danube, where the river courses through a series of spectacular gorges. Savor great views of the Transylvanian Alps, and look for a monument to the 2nd-century Dacian King Decebalus carved into the Danube’s rocky bank; it is Europe’s tallest rock sculpture. Your riverboat crosses into Serbia this afternoon.</description>
  <overnight>Cruising aboard the Riverboat</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="7">
  <title>Belgrade, Serbia’s Capital</title>
  <description>Awaken dockside in Belgrade, the cosmopolitan capital of modern Serbia at the confluence of the Danube and Sava rivers. The city’s roots date back to a Celtic settlement in the 3rd century BC. Today’s sightseeing in Belgrade includes visits to Tito’s Memorial, St. Sava Church, and Kalemegdan Fortress. You’ll also see Slavija Square, Parliament, City Hall and Republic Square. Listen to the music of Serbia when a folkloric group comes on board to entertain you.</description>
  <overnight>Cruising aboard the Riverboat</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="8">
  <title>Cruise to Croatia </title>
  <description>Arrive in Croatia for several excursions revealing historic and cultural influences that have shaped the country over the centuries. Witness the lasting effects of the 1990s war poignantly illustrated in the 10th-century city of Vukovar, once renowned for its elegant Baroque mansions.</description>
  <overnight>Cruising aboard the Riverboat</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="9">
  <title>Kalocsa and Solt, Hungary</title>
  <description>Kalocsa, Hungary, is celebrated both for its paprika and its folk art; see the magnificent Library in the Baroque Bishop’s Palace, one of the finest in Europe. At the Equestrian Center, watch traditional Puszta horsemen demonstrate time-honored skills and traditions, and enjoy a horse-drawn wagon ride. Tonight, join us aboard the riverboat for the Captain’s cocktail reception and dinner.</description>
  <overnight>Cruising aboard the Riverboat</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="10">
  <title>Fascinating Budapest</title>
  <description>Arrive in Budapest, where you can relax on a spa visit or discover Heroes’ Square and Fishermen’s Bastion on a sightseeing tour of both Buda and Pest. Reboard the ship this evening and chart a course for Bratislava.</description>
  <overnight>Cruising aboard the Riverboat</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="11">
  <title>Danube Cruise / Bratislava </title>
  <description>Cruise the Danube to Bratislava, capital city of modern Slovakia and a long-ago capital of Hungary. Be sure to bring your passport for a guided walking tour of this Baroque-inspired gem. Walk back through centuries of history on a visit to the 13th-century Old Town Hall, past Habsburg-era palaces, the Opera House, Slovak Philharmonic Hall, and St. Martin’s Cathedral. Treat your taste buds to some regional fare in a local coffeehouse before returning to the ship. Colorful Slovakian entertainment is on the docket for this evening when a talented troupe of dancers and musicians performs aboard ship.</description>
  <overnight>Cruising aboard the Riverboat</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="12">
  <title>The Imperial City of Vienna</title>
  <description>Dock in legendary Vienna, inspiring romantic visions of “Old Europe.” Sightseeing includes the Ringstrasse, the Opera House and Parliament, and your choice of a visit to Schönbrunn Palace or the Imperial Silver Room at the Hofburg. Prepare to be pampered with royal treatment tonight at a private Imperial Evening in a traditional palace, where a grand gala dinner provides an incomparable setting for tonight’s Viennese performers.</description>
  <overnight>Cruising aboard the Riverboat</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="13">
  <title>Vienna / Cruise to Dürnstein</title>
  <description>For centuries, Vienna was the capital of the Habsburgs’ Austro-Hungarian Empire, and its exalted position among European cities survives to this day. The morning is yours to discover some of the city’s opulent palaces, theatres and other cultural institutions – including over a hundred museums – on your own before returning to the riverboat to resume your Danube River trip. Cruise this afternoon along picturesque landscapes en route to Dürnstein in Austria’s wine country for a late night arrival. High on a hilltop above the town lie the ruins of Kuenringerburg Castle, a place of history and legend; England’s King Richard the Lionhearted was held for ransom here during the Crusades.</description>
  <overnight>Cruising aboard the Riverboat</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="14">
  <title>Dürnstein / Wachau Valley Cruise</title>
  <description>Join a local guide for a walking tour of Dürnstein’s cobblestone streets that reveals 16th-century Baroque houses and a 13th-century Romanesque church. Explore on your own, or walk up to the castle ruins for lovely vistas of Dürnstein and the Danube, prior to a delightful wine tasting at a local Wachau region winery. Your riverboat journey continues past lush vineyards, ancient castles and monasteries in the Wachau Valley, declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its well-preserved medieval landscapes and towns, including Melk. Local Austrian entertainers come aboard ship this evening to share the musical traditions of their country.</description>
  <overnight>Cruising aboard the Riverboat</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="15">
  <title>Salzburg and Linz</title>
  <description>You have a choice today; enjoy the town of Linz, Austria, as you wish, or join us for a full-day excursion to enchanting Salzburg, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s hometown on the Salzach River. A pageant of beautiful Baroque architecture awaits on a guided walking tour through narrow lanes and old squares; climb up narrow staircases for a glimpse inside Mozart’s birthplace and visit lovely Mirabell Gardens, adorned with Baroque statues and fountains, before rejoining the ship for dinner.</description>
  <overnight>Cruising aboard the Riverboat</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="16">
  <title>Passau / Cruising the Danube</title>
  <description>Arrive in Passau after breakfast for a guided walking tour through the tunnels, archways, churches, four-story Baroque houses and cobblestone streets of this Bavarian town on the Danube and Inn Rivers. See the Old Town and Altes Rathaus (town hall) before returning to your riverboat for lunch. An idyllic afternoon lies before you as you cruise through pastoral landscapes to Regensburg. Join us tonight for our farewell reception and dinner.</description>
  <overnight>Cruising aboard the Riverboat</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="17">
  <title>Regensburg / Prague</title>
  <description>Disembark your riverboat in Regensburg, whose roots stretch back to its humble beginnings as a campsite for the Roman legions. A guided walking tour of Old Town Regensburg chronicles the town’s rich heritage; see 12th-century Steinerne Brücke (Germany’s oldest surviving stone bridge), towering Dom St. Peter – Bavaria’s most impressive Gothic wonder – and the remains of the Roman wall. Some 1,400 period buildings stand as enduring testimony to the town’s medieval history. Enjoy lunch on your own before departing for Prague.</description>
  <overnight>Prague Marriott Hotel, Prague, Czech Republic</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="18">
  <title>Prague, Past and Present</title>
  <description>Discover Prague, capital of the modern Czech Republic, starting in the Hradcany (Castle) district, where 1,000-year-old Prague Castle is surrounded by a complex of palaces, gardens, museums and monasteries. Visit the Gothic Cathedral of St. Vitus, and enjoy a Tauck Exclusive – a private guided tour of the beautiful 18th-century Baroque libraries of Strahov Monastery. Spend the afternoon exploring on your own or come along on a walking tour of ethereal Old Town, home to the famous Astronomical Clock, Charles Bridge and Wenceslas Square.</description>
  <overnight>Prague Marriott Hotel, Prague, Czech Republic</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="19">
  <title>Journey Home</title>
  <description>Tour ends: Prague, Czech Republic. A transfer is included from the Prague Marriott Hotel to Prague’s Ruzyne Airport; allow a minimum of 3 hours for flight check-in. For additional hotel nights in Budapest or Prague, inquire at time of booking.</description>
  <overnight></overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="0">
  <title></title>
  <description></description>
  <overnight></overnight>
  <meals></meals>
</itineraryDay>
  </itineraryDetails>
  <highlights>
		
				Vienna ~ Bratislava ~ Budapest ~ Vukovar ~ Belgrade ~ Constanta ~ Bucharest 
</highlights>
  <tauckValues>
    <value order="1">Gratuities to ship staff, drivers, local guides, Tauck Directors and Tauck Cruise Director</value><value order="2">All private Tauck shore excursions  $1,330 Value!</value><value order="3">Two nights each in Prague &amp; Bucharest at 5-star hotels, centrally located in the heart of the cities</value><value order="4">A chance to meet Bulgarian contemporaries and sample local cuisine at a home-hosted lunch in Arbanassi</value><value order="5">Visits in Romania to the popular Black Sea resort of Mamaia, and Bucharest’s massive People’s Palace</value><value order="6">A horse-drawn wagon ride to an equestrian center in Hungary, where Puszta horsemen and local craftsmen               share time-honored cultural traditions</value><value order="7">Passage through the celebrated Iron Gate, a dramatic series of gorges and narrows on the Danube River</value><value order="8">Choice of Romanian excursions – to Peles Castle in Sinaia, or to the isolated Snagov Monastery, reputed          burial place of Vlad Tepes, the original Dracula</value><value order="9">Tauck Exclusive – Private Imperial Evening at a traditional palace in Vienna featuring dinner and Viennese performers</value><value order="10">Tauck Exclusive – A private tour of the beautiful Baroque libraries of Strahov Monastery in Prague</value><value order="11">Choice of a visit to the Hofburg’s Imperial Silver Room or a guided tour of Schönbrunn Palace</value><value order="12">A day in Mozart’s hometown of Salzburg, Austria, including a visit to Mirabell Gardens</value><value order="13">Evenings of traditional Slovakian entertainment and classical music aboard the riverboat</value><value order="14">18 breakfasts, 15 lunches and 16 dinners; select meals in local restaurants; wine with dinner on the riverboat</value><value order="15">Service charges, taxes, porterage, airport transfers and applicable fuel surcharges</value>
  </tauckValues>  
  
</tour><tour>
  <sourceId>RZE2010</sourceId>
  <title>Romance of the Rhine &amp; Danube</title>
  <summary>
    <![CDATA[		
New for 2010!
 Imperial palaces, Baroque gardens and other treasures once reserved for European royalty await along the Rhine, Main and Danube rivers on Tauck&apos;s comprehensive new journey combining a two-week riverboat cruise aboard ms Swiss Sapphire with two-night stays in Strasbourg and Budapest. 
]]>
  </summary>
  <description>
    <![CDATA[New for 2010, Tauck’s Romance of the Rhine &amp; Danube combines the riverboat cruise portions of Strasbourg to Prague Serenade and The Blue Danube with two-night stays in Strasbourg and Budapest. The result is an extraordinary journey through five countries between France and Hungary – past castles, vineyards and historic villages all along the Rhine and Danube rivers to the glittering capital cities of Vienna, Bratislava and Budapest – in the gracious style once reserved for the nobility… aboard the luxurious ms Swiss Sapphire. Walk in the footsteps of the rich and famous of long ago as you explore the glamorous spa town of Baden-Baden with its elegant casino, and discover what life was like in palaces like the Heidelberger Schloss, Würzberg’s imposing Residenz, and Vienna’s resplendent Schönbrunn Palace and the Hofburg. Feel history come alive as you explore medieval towns and villages such as Obernai, Miltenberg, Regensburg and Bamberg. Savor an authentic taste of the region during meals aboard ship and at specially selected restaurants ashore during your riverboat cruise; and sample fine wines of the Alsace, the renowned vintages of the Wachau Valley and the beers of Germany’s Franconia region during tours and tastings. Two nights to discover Strasbourg and two nights to explore Budapest enrich this enchanting 19-day riverboat cruise experience. 
]]>
  </description>
  <link>http://www.tauck.com/tours/europe-tours/central-and-eastern-europe-tours/riverboat-cruises-rze-2010</link>
  <durationDays>19</durationDays>
  <durationDetails>19 days and 18 nights.</durationDetails>
  <tripType>ESCORTED_CRUISE</tripType>
  <brand>Riverboats</brand>
  <subbrand>Riverboat</subbrand>
  <gradeRating>ALL_AGES</gradeRating>
  <comfortRating>COMFORTABLE_MIXED</comfortRating>
  <startingLocation>Strasbourg, France</startingLocation>
  <prices>
    <price currency="USD">6790</price>
    <priceDetails><![CDATA[All prices are per person in U.S. dollars. ]]></priceDetails>
  </prices>
  <images>
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    <image>http://tools.tauck.com/Files/ItineraryImages/altImages/RZE2010_alt1.jpg</image>
    <image>http://tools.tauck.com/Files/ItineraryImages/altImages/RZE2010_alt2.jpg</image>
    <image>http://tools.tauck.com/Files/ItineraryImages/altImages/RZE2010_alt3.jpg</image>
    <image isMap="true">http://tools.tauck.com/Files/ItineraryImages/MapImages/map_RZE2010.jpg</image>
  </images>
  <itinerary>
    <![CDATA[]]>
  </itinerary>
  <itineraryDetails>
    <itineraryDay day="1">
  <title>Arrive Strasbourg</title>
  <description>Tour begins: 6:00 PM, Sofitel Strasbourg Grande Ile. Welcome to Strasbourg, France, cosmopolitan home of the European Union on the Rhine River. We invite you to join us this evening for a welcome reception and dinner.</description>
  <overnight>Sofitel Strasbourg Grande Île, Strasbourg, France </overnight>
  <meals>Dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="2">
  <title>Strasbourg, Crossroads of Europe</title>
  <description>Principal city of the Alsace region and site of the Council of Europe and the European Parliament, Strasbourg has seen a lot of history over the centuries. Its rich mix of architecture ranges from Gothic to Renaissance to Baroque to Art Nouveau to modern, like the European Parliament buildings you’ll pass en route to a walking tour of La Petite France in the Grande Ile district – a UNESCO World Heritage Site with canals, medieval watchtowers and half-timbered houses. Visit the 11th-century Cathedral of Our Lady; towering over the city, it was the world’s tallest building for 200 years, and can be seen from the Black Forest across the Rhine. Spend the rest of the day exploring on your own.</description>
  <overnight>Sofitel Strasbourg Grande Île, Strasbourg, France</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="3">
  <title>The Route des Vins / • Embark Cruise</title>
  <description>Wind your way along the renowned Route des Vins d’Alsace (Alsatian Wine Road) today, passing through enchanting little villages of the Alsace region, one of France’s most important wine-growing areas. Sample the wares of local vintners during lunch at a former manor house in Obernai before returning to Strasbourg to board ms Swiss Sapphire for the start of your Rhine and Main river cruise – which you’ll kick off in style with tonight’s festive welcome reception hosted by the Captain.</description>
  <overnight>Aboard ms Swiss Sapphire</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="4">
  <title>Baden-Baden, Elegant Spa Town</title>
  <description>Baden-Baden’s famous springs have been known to bathers since Roman times; in fact, the German word “baden” translates to “bathe.” Visit this acclaimed Black Forest spa town today, discovering castle ruins and the remains of its Roman baths on a walking tour. The 19th-century Russian novelist Fyodor Dostoevsky penned The Gambler while gambling compulsively at the sumptuous Baden-Baden Casino, which a more recent patron – German-born screen icon Marlene Dietrich – called “the most beautiful casino in the world.” Check out this 250-year-old Belle Èpoque treasure before returning to the riverboat for this evening’s cruise along the legendary River Rhine.</description>
  <overnight>Aboard ms Swiss Sapphire</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="5">
  <title>Historic Heidelberg</title>
  <description>Head out for a full day’s excursion to Heidelberg, home to Germany’s oldest university. A walking tour reveals Old Town’s delightful mix of medieval Gothic walls and gates, Renaissance and 17th-century Baroque homes and palaces; take a funicular ride up to romantic Heidelberger Schloss, a prime example of a Gothic-Renaissance castle. Enjoy lunch in a local Heidelberg restaurant and explore on your own before rejoining the riverboat in Mainz to continue your cruise on the River Main.</description>
  <overnight>Aboard ms Swiss Sapphire</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="6">
  <title>Miltenberg / Bavarian Nights</title>
  <description>You’ll have time to enjoy your riverboat’s entertainment options – from Wii games to video-on-demand in select cabin categories to organized activities with your Tauck Cruise Director – as you glide past the River Main’s lush, romantic landscapes to Miltenberg. Spend the afternoon exploring this old Bavarian town with its hilltop castle, medieval gates and market square, half-timbered houses and traces of its Roman roots. A Bavarian-themed dinner entertains aboard your riverboat this evening.</description>
  <overnight>Aboard ms Swiss Sapphire</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="7">
  <title>Würzburg and the Residenz</title>
  <description>Würzburg has a long and storied history; its cathedral occupies a site consecrated by Charlemagne himself in the 8th century. But much of the architecture you’ll see as you tour this cathedral town was reconstructed by citizens – most of them women (dubbed Trümmerfrauen, or “rubble women”) – after 90% of the city was destroyed in World War II. This includes the Alte Mainbrücke and the Residenz, a beautiful palace complex you’ll visit this afternoon and return to tonight for dinner in the wine cellar featuring a wine tasting and entertainment.</description>
  <overnight>Aboard ms Swiss Sapphire</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="8">
  <title>Along the Main / Bamberg</title>
  <description>As you cruise the Main, you can listen to commentary by your Tauck Directors throughout the ship or in your cabin. Dock in Hassfurt for an excursion to charming Bamberg, set atop seven hills. Take a walking tour of Old Town, see its 13th-century cathedral, and visit a historic Bamberg brewery for a brewery tour and tasting.</description>
  <overnight>Aboard ms Swiss Sapphire</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="9">
  <title>Main-Danube Canal / Nürnberg</title>
  <description>Learn all about the Main-Danube Canal from a local expert today as your riverboat transits this engineering marvel, which fulfilled the dream of creating a link between the North Sea and the Black Sea when it was completed in the 1990s. Arrive mid-morning in Nürnberg, where a morning orientation tour reveals the must-see sites of this influential Bavarian city, which was the center of the German Renaissance, and played a key role in World War II and its aftermath. After lunch with entertainment at a local restaurant, discover Nürnberg’s walled medieval heart on a walking tour prior to returning to the riverboat for the Captain’s reception and dinner tonight.</description>
  <overnight>Aboard ms Swiss Sapphire</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="10">
  <title>Day in Regensburg </title>
  <description>Arrive at a site on the Danube that the Roman legions who camped here 2,000 years ago called Castra Regina; today, Regensburg is Germany’s largest surviving medieval city, with some 1,400 historic buildings. Disembark and discover its rich heritage – including Germany’s oldest stone bridge and Gothic Dom St. Peter – on a guided walking tour with your local guide. You might try Regensburg’s renowned Bavarian sausage for before returning to the riverboat for the Captain’s reception welcoming new passengers for the next stage of your cruise, the Danube. Tonight, enjoy a Discovery briefing by the Tauck Directors.</description>
  <overnight>Aboard ms Swiss Sapphire</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="11">
  <title>Picturesque Passau</title>
  <description>One of our guests happily remarked that this riverboat cruise is like taking a magic carpet ride through a parade of picturesque places, getting on and off in towns that beg to be explored. An early arrival in Passau this morning lets you do just that when we disembark for a walking tour with a local guide whose love for his hometown makes your visit even more special. Pedestrian walkways take you through tunnels and archways, Baroque houses and ancient cobblestone streets in this hilly town. See the Altes Rathaus and Old Town before cruising to Linz, Austria.</description>
  <overnight>Aboard ms Swiss Sapphire</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="12">
  <title>Salzburg and Linz</title>
  <description>Your boat stays docked in Linz today, giving you the opportunity to visit the town as you wish or join us for a full-day excursion to Salzburg on the Salzach River, the celebrated hometown of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. A parade of beautiful Baroque architecture, painted wrought-iron signage, ornate church towers and grand palaces paves the way for your visits to Mozart’s birthplace and lovely Mirabell Gardens. Rejoin the ship for dinner and a wonderful classical music performance.</description>
  <overnight>Aboard ms Swiss Sapphire</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="13">
  <title>Wachau Valley Cruise / Dürnstein</title>
  <description>On-board commentary enriches this morning’s leisurely cruise past lush vineyards, fairy-tale castles and ancient monasteries in the Wachau Valley, declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its well-preserved medieval landscapes – it is the perfect scenic appetizer for your stop in the charming little village of Dürnstein in Austria’s wine country. Take a closer look at its 16th-century Baroque houses and 13th-century Romanesque church as you stroll down its one main street or take an invigorating climb up the steps to the ruins of hilltop Kuenringerburg Castle for great views. A wine tasting back in town at an authentic tavern celebrates local cultural traditions and new friendships.</description>
  <overnight>Aboard ms Swiss Sapphire</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="14">
  <title>The Imperial City of Vienna</title>
  <description>Wake up in Vienna, inspiring romantic visions of “Old Europe.” A choice of sightseeing today features a tour of the Habsburgs’ Schönbrunn Palace, resplendent with history, or the Imperial Silver Room at the Hofburg, Austria’s official presidential residence. Nothing quite compares to the royal treatment – and pageantry – you will experience tonight at our private Imperial Evening in a traditional Viennese palace; from a spectacle of beautiful ball gowns and elegant finery to a musical performance alive with the spirit of Mozart, you’ll feel like you could dance all night.</description>
  <overnight>Aboard ms Swiss Sapphire</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="15">
  <title>Vienna / Cruise to Slovakia</title>
  <description>Spend time this morning as you wish discovering the Vienna you have dreamed of in your mind’s eye. Join us back on the ship for lunch and an afternoon cruise to neighboring Slovakia. Dinner tonight introduces you to a glimpse of daily life in Slovakia with a taste of regional cuisine and an on-board performance by a talented troupe of Slovakian dancers who welcome you to Bratislava in authentic dress.</description>
  <overnight>Aboard ms Swiss Sapphire</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="16">
  <title>Bratislava / Danube Cruise</title>
  <description>Our local expert will share insider anecdotes about Bratislava before you embark on a walking tour of this vehicle-free, cobblestoned city. See 17 centuries of history eloquently chronicled in its 13th-century Old Town Hall, Baroque Habsburg-era palaces, the Opera House, Slovak Philharmonic Hall, and St. Martin’s Cathedral, site of the coronation of many Hungarian kings and queens, and sample some of Slovakia’s delectable almond pastry at a local café. Back on board ship, get ready to celebrate tomorrow’s arrival in Budapest – and the end of your Danube riverboat cruise – with our gala Captain’s farewell reception and dinner.</description>
  <overnight>Aboard ms Swiss Sapphire</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="17">
  <title>Disembark Budapest / Explore Buda</title>
  <description>Disembark this morning in Budapest, Hungary’s capital, divided by the mighty Danube River. A guided walking tour of the city’s Buda section includes Castle Hill, Fishermen’s Bastion, and Matthias Church (may be closed on some days). Dine at a choice of restaurants tonight.</description>
  <overnight>InterContinental Budapest, Hungary</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="18">
  <title>A Tour of Pest</title>
  <description>Your tour of Pest today includes patriotic Heroes’ Square, Váci Utca, the Parliament building, tree-lined Andrassy Avenue, and a special visit to Hungary’s State Opera House. Spend the remainder of the day at your leisure. The city abounds with architectural sights and fine dining.</description>
  <overnight>InterContinental Budapest, Hungary</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="19">
  <title>Journey Home</title>
  <description>Tour ends: Budapest, Hungary. A transfer is included from the InterContinental Budapest to Ferihegy Airport; allow a minimum of 3 hours for flight check-in.</description>
  <overnight></overnight>
  <meals></meals>
</itineraryDay>
  </itineraryDetails>
  <highlights></highlights>
  <tauckValues>
    <value order="1">Gratuities to ship staff, drivers, local guides, Tauck Directors and Tauck Cruise Director</value><value order="2">All private Tauck shore excursions  $1,485 Value!</value><value order="3">Two nights each in Strasbourg and Budapest at five-star hotels in the heart of the cities</value><value order="4">Lunch at a former manor house in Obernai with local wine from the romantic Alsace region</value><value order="5">A special dinner, entertainment, and wine tasting in the wine cellars of Würzburg’s famous Residenz</value><value order="6">Tour and tasting at a historic Bamberg brewery</value><value order="7">A visit to the opulent Baden-Baden Casino</value><value order="8">A transit of the Main-Danube Canal, enhanced by an on-board lecture by a local expert</value><value order="9">Evenings of traditional entertainment aboard the riverboat, including a Bavarian-themed dinner</value><value order="10">Tauck Exclusive – Private Imperial Evening at a traditional palace in Vienna featuring dinner and performers</value><value order="11">Choice of a visit to the Hofburg’s Imperial Silver Room or a guided tour of Schönbrunn Palace</value><value order="12">A day in Mozart’s hometown of Salzburg, Austria, including a visit to Mirabell Gardens</value><value order="13">Evenings of traditional Slovakian entertainment and classical music aboard the riverboat</value><value order="14">18 breakfasts, 16 lunches and 16 dinners.</value><value order="15">Select meals in local restaurants, wine with all dinners on the riverboat</value><value order="16">Service charges, taxes, porterage, airport transfers and applicable fuel surcharges</value>
  </tauckValues>  
  
</tour><tour>
  <sourceId>SA2010</sourceId>
  <title>South Africa: An Elegant Adventure</title>
  <summary>
    <![CDATA[From wildlife to wineries, elephant rides to cable car vistas, a private game reserve to a historic colonial hotel, waterfalls to a trendy waterfront, this South Africa tour covers it all.
]]>
  </summary>
  <description>
    <![CDATA[Only on Tauck&apos;s South Africa tour can you experience inspiring game drives, the majesty of Victoria Falls, the drama of the Cape of Good Hope, and a taste of fine local wines. Stay in a private game reserve where you may spot leopards, lions, elephants, impalas, and zebras. Explore Cape Town, Robben Island, Johannesburg, and Soweto. Learn more about the struggle against apartheid, board a cable car for ocean views, and view Victoria Falls, one of the world&apos;s must-see natural wonders. Our South Africa tour and safari enriches the traveler from start to finish!
]]>
  </description>
  <link>http://www.tauck.com/tours/africa-travel/south-africa-tour-sa-2010</link>
  <durationDays>12</durationDays>
  <durationDetails>12 days and 11 nights.</durationDetails>
  <tripType>ESCORTED_TOUR</tripType>
  <brand>TWD</brand>
  <subbrand>Exotics</subbrand>
  <gradeRating>ALL_AGES</gradeRating>
  <comfortRating>COMFORTABLE_MIXED</comfortRating>
  <startingLocation>Cape Town, South Africa</startingLocation>
  <prices>
    <price currency="USD">6090</price>
    <priceDetails><![CDATA[All prices are per person in U.S. dollars. ]]></priceDetails>
  </prices>
  <images>
    <image isMain="true">http://tools.tauck.com/Files/ItineraryImages/ListImages/img_SA2010_list.jpg</image>
    <image>http://tools.tauck.com/Files/ItineraryImages/altImages/SA2010_alt1.jpg</image>
    <image>http://tools.tauck.com/Files/ItineraryImages/altImages/SA2010_alt2.jpg</image>
    <image>http://tools.tauck.com/Files/ItineraryImages/altImages/SA2010_alt3.jpg</image>
    <image isMap="true">http://tools.tauck.com/Files/ItineraryImages/MapImages/map_SA2010.jpg</image>
  </images>
  <itinerary>
    <![CDATA[Flying to South Africa 
To ease the effects of jet lag, you may want to consider traveling to Africa a day early. Tauck can book your transatlantic flights for travel originating in the United States, and arrange accommodations in Cape Town for the night before your tour begins, giving you time to rest and relax. Ask for details upon booking.

1. Arrive Cape Town
Tour begins: 6:30 PM, Cape Grace. A transfer is included from Cape Town International Airport to the Cape Grace; consistently recognized as one of the world’s top hotels, all guest rooms have views of the city’s waterfront or the dramatic vista of Table Mountain as a backdrop. Cape Town is one of the world’s most beautiful cities, and your location is perfect. Your elegant adventure begins with a welcome cocktail reception and dinner at the hotel. Meals D

2. Guided Discoveries on Robben Island
Tauck has arranged a visit to Robben Island this morning, recognized as a World Heritage Site – and difficult to visit on your own. The site of an extraordinary nature reserve and former whaling station, this island is probably best known for its old maximum-security prison. A ferry takes you across Table Bay, with fantastic views of Table Mountain, for a guided “insider’s” tour of the island. Learn about the island’s complex history, visit the prison and see the cell that housed Nelson Mandela for so many years. South African wines have enjoyed a royal following since the days of emperors and kings. Savor the fruit of the vine when you travel to Constantia for a wine tasting at South Africa’s oldest winery, followed by a wine-pairing dinner. Meals BD

3. Table Mountain / Cape Peninsula
Sightsee in and around Cape Town this morning, then head out to the Cape Peninsula, astounding with spectacular scenery. En route, weather permitting, take a rotating cable car up Table Mountain, enjoying 360-degree views of the city and bay during the ride up and on a walk at the top. Awe-inspiring sights continue when you board a funicular for Cape Point and the historic lighthouse. Your bird’s-eye view includes hundreds of seagulls that soar over the cliffs and the Cape of Good Hope below. After lunch, meet birds that prefer to congregate closer to the sea. Standing about two feet tall and bursting with endearing curiosity, one of Africa’s only two land-based colonies of African penguins nests in the boulder-strewn coastal park outside of Cape Town; meet them up-close in their unique beachfront sanctuary before returning to your hotel for a free evening to enjoy as you wish. Meals BL

4. Fly to a Private Game Reserve\
Your safari experience* begins at Sabi Sabi Bush Lodge in the Sabi Sands Game Reserve bordering Kruger National Park. An afternoon game drive is your introduction to life in the African bush. The reserve is home to a great biodiversity of habitat and wildlife, including the “Big Five” – elephant, rhino, buffalo, lion and leopard – as well as wild dog and cheetah and over 300 species of birds. Meals BD

5. Exclusive Game Drives, Sabi Sabi
Head out from Sabi Sabi Bush Lodge for morning and afternoon game drives aboard a four-wheel-drive, open-top Land Rover. Experienced rangers and Shangaan trackers use their finely honed skills to help you spot the animals that migrate through the reserve, ranging from gazelles, antelope, and giraffes to elephants and lions. Meals BLD

6. Kruger National Park &amp; Tinga
Enjoy a final game drive in Sabi Sabi before continuing on to the incomparable Kruger National Park. Established in the late 19th century to protect the wildlife of the lowveldt, Kruger is believed to host more species of mammals than any other African game sanctuary. Game viewing here often rewards with sightings of elephants, hyena, leopard, and even cheetah. Your safari accommodations for the next two nights are at Tinga Private Game Lodge, located along the banks of the Sabie River in a private setting inside the park. The river is home to many endangered and rare species of mammals, birds, reptiles, and plants – be on the lookout for them on an afternoon game drive before dinner. Meals BLD

7. Tinga Game Drives
Prime wildlife viewing is what game drives are all about at Tinga; guests have spied elephant, cheetah, leopard, black rhinos, white rhinos and even wild dogs. After today’s two game drives, you’ll have lots to share with fellow guests over dinner, an acclaimed Tinga culinary experience. Meals BLD

8. Johannesburg &amp; Gems
Experience a final game drive this morning before flying to Johannesburg. Stay two nights at The Grace in Rosebank, set in the heart of a tree-lined cosmopolitan suburb. Much of “Jo’burg’s” wealth came from its gold and diamond mines; learn about the history of Africa’s precious stones from an expert gemologist this evening. Meals BD

9. Sightsee Soweto
Cultural discoveries enrich your educational sightseeing tour of Soweto township. See Freedom Square, the Hector Pieterson Memorial, the home of Winnie Mandela, and the home of Archbishop Desmond Tutu. A dance performance at the Youth Center celebrates local traditions; visit the library, built by guest donations. The evening is free. Meals BL

10. Magnificent Victoria Falls
Fly to Victoria Falls for two nights at The Victoria Falls Hotel, an Edwardian-style hotel; stroll along the private pathway for stunning views. A local historian gives you insights into the life of David Livingstone aboard a private sundowner cruise on the wildlife-rich Zambezi River. Dine this evening in your choice of hotel restaurants. Meals BD

11. Zambezi Nat’l Park / Elephants 
Take a privately guided bush tour into Zambezi National Park, then learn about the African elephant and their relationship with man during a visit to a nearby elephant sanctuary. Join us for a farewell dinner tonight. Meals BLD

12. Journey Home 
Tour ends: Johannesburg Airport. Enjoy time at leisure in Victoria Falls before your return flight to Johannesburg. Allow a minimum of 3 hours for flight check-in. Meals B

]]>
  </itinerary>
  <itineraryDetails>
    <itineraryDay day="1">
  <title>Arrive Cape Town</title>
  <description>Tour begins: 6:30 PM, Cape Grace. A transfer is included from Cape Town International Airport to the Cape Grace; consistently recognized as one of the world’s top hotels, all guest rooms have views of the city’s waterfront or the dramatic vista of Table Mountain as a backdrop. Cape Town is one of the world’s most beautiful cities, and your location is perfect. Your elegant adventure begins with a welcome cocktail reception and dinner at the hotel.</description>
  <overnight>Cape Grace, Cape Town, South Africa</overnight>
  <meals>Dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="2">
  <title>Guided Discoveries on Robben Island</title>
  <description>Tauck has arranged a visit to Robben Island this morning, recognized as a World Heritage Site – and difficult to visit on your own. The site of an extraordinary nature reserve and former whaling station, this island is probably best known for its old maximum-security prison. A ferry takes you across Table Bay, with fantastic views of Table Mountain, for a guided “insider’s” tour of the island. Learn about the island’s complex history, visit the prison and see the cell that housed Nelson Mandela for so many years. South African wines have enjoyed a royal following since the days of emperors and kings. Savor the fruit of the vine when you travel to Constantia for a wine tasting at South Africa’s oldest winery, followed by a wine-pairing dinner.</description>
  <overnight>Cape Grace, Cape Town, South Africa</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="3">
  <title>Table Mountain / Cape Peninsula</title>
  <description>Sightsee in and around Cape Town this morning, then head out to the Cape Peninsula, astounding with spectacular scenery. En route, weather permitting, take a rotating cable car up Table Mountain, enjoying 360-degree views of the city and bay during the ride up and on a walk at the top. Awe-inspiring sights continue when you board a funicular for Cape Point and the historic lighthouse. Your bird’s-eye view includes hundreds of seagulls that soar over the cliffs and the Cape of Good Hope below. After lunch, meet birds that prefer to congregate closer to the sea. Standing about two feet tall and bursting with endearing curiosity, one of Africa’s only two land-based colonies of African penguins nests in the boulder-strewn coastal park outside of Cape Town; meet them up-close in their unique beachfront sanctuary before returning to your hotel for a free evening to enjoy as you wish.</description>
  <overnight>Cape Grace, Cape Town, South Africa</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="4">
  <title>Fly to a Private Game Reserve</title>
  <description>Your safari experience* begins at Sabi Sabi Bush Lodge in the Sabi Sands Game Reserve bordering Kruger National Park. An afternoon game drive is your introduction to life in the African bush. The reserve is home to a great biodiversity of habitat and wildlife, including the “Big Five” – elephant, rhino, buffalo, lion and leopard – as well as wild dog and cheetah and over 300 species of birds.</description>
  <overnight>Sabi Sabi Bush Lodge, Sabi Sands Private Reserve, South Africa</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="5">
  <title>Exclusive Game Drives, Sabi Sabi</title>
  <description>Head out from Sabi Sabi Bush Lodge for morning and afternoon game drives aboard a four-wheel-drive, open-top Land Rover. Experienced rangers and Shangaan trackers use their finely honed skills to help you spot the animals that migrate through the reserve, ranging from gazelles, antelope, and giraffes to elephants and lions.</description>
  <overnight>Sabi Sabi Bush Lodge, Sabi Sands Private Reserve, South Africa</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="6">
  <title>Kruger National Park &amp; Tinga</title>
  <description>Enjoy a final game drive in Sabi Sabi before continuing on to the incomparable Kruger National Park. Established in the late 19th century to protect the wildlife of the lowveldt, Kruger is believed to host more species of mammals than any other African game sanctuary. Game viewing here often rewards with sightings of elephants, hyena, leopard, and even cheetah. Your safari accommodations for the next two nights are at Tinga Private Game Lodge, located along the banks of the Sabie River in a private setting inside the park. The river is home to many endangered and rare species of mammals, birds, reptiles, and plants – be on the lookout for them on an afternoon game drive before dinner.</description>
  <overnight>Tinga Private Game Lodge, Tinga Concession, South Africa</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="7">
  <title>Tinga Game Drives</title>
  <description>Prime wildlife viewing is what game drives are all about at Tinga; guests have spied elephant, cheetah, leopard, black rhinos, white rhinos and even wild dogs. After today’s two game drives, you’ll have lots to share with fellow guests over dinner, an acclaimed Tinga culinary experience.</description>
  <overnight>Tinga Private Game Lodge, Tinga Concession, South Africa</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="8">
  <title>Johannesburg &amp; Gems</title>
  <description>Experience a final game drive this morning before flying to Johannesburg. Stay two nights at The Grace in Rosebank, set in the heart of a tree-lined cosmopolitan suburb. Much of “Jo’burg’s” wealth came from its gold and diamond mines; learn about the history of Africa’s precious stones from an expert gemologist this evening.</description>
  <overnight>The Grace in Rosebank, Johannesburg, South Africa</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="9">
  <title>Sightsee Soweto</title>
  <description>Cultural discoveries enrich your educational sightseeing tour of Soweto township. See Freedom Square, the Hector Pieterson Memorial, the home of Winnie Mandela, and the home of Archbishop Desmond Tutu. A dance performance at the Youth Center celebrates local traditions; visit the library, built by guest donations. The evening is free.</description>
  <overnight>The Grace in Rosebank, Johannesburg, South Africa</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="10">
  <title>Magnificent Victoria Falls</title>
  <description>Fly to Victoria Falls for two nights at The Victoria Falls Hotel, an Edwardian-style hotel; stroll along the private pathway for stunning views. A local historian gives you insights into the life of David Livingstone aboard a private sundowner cruise on the wildlife-rich Zambezi River. Dine this evening in your choice of hotel restaurants.</description>
  <overnight>The Victoria Falls Hotel, Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="11">
  <title>Zambezi Nat’l Park / Elephants</title>
  <description>Take a privately guided bush tour into Zambezi National Park, then learn about the African elephant and their relationship with man during a visit to a nearby elephant sanctuary. Join us for a farewell dinner tonight.</description>
  <overnight>The Victoria Falls Hotel, Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="12">
  <title>Journey Home</title>
  <description>Tour ends: Johannesburg Airport. Enjoy time at leisure in Victoria Falls before your return flight to Johannesburg. Allow a minimum of 3 hours for flight check-in.</description>
  <overnight></overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast</meals>
</itineraryDay>
  </itineraryDetails>
  <highlights>
		
				Cape Town ~ Winelands ~ Victoria Falls ~ Private Game Reserve 
</highlights>
  <tauckValues>
    <value order="1">Private game drives with skilled rangers and trackers during four nights at private game reserves in or near Kruger National Park  two nights at Sabi Sabi Bush Lodge and two nights at Tinga Private Game Lodge</value><value order="2">A pre-arranged visit to Robben Island, where youll learn the story of the South African freedom fighters</value><value order="3">Exclusive cultural discoveries in historic Soweto, including a visit to a Youth Center</value><value order="4">Two nights in Victoria Falls, enriched by a visit to an elephant sanctuary and a private sundowner river cruise</value><value order="5">Three nights at one of the Worlds Best hotels, Cape Grace in Cape Town, on the Victoria &amp; Alfred Waterfront</value><value order="6">26 meals (11 breakfasts, 6 lunches, 9 dinners)</value><value order="7">Gratuities to local guides, airport transfers, service charges, taxes and porterage</value>
  </tauckValues>  
  <departureDates>
    <date>
    <day>30</day>
    <month>8</month>
    <year>2010</year>
    <singlesPrice>8270</singlesPrice>
    <doublesPrice>6990</doublesPrice>
    <triplesPrice>0</triplesPrice>
    <quadsPrice>0</quadsPrice>
    
  </date>
  <date>
    <day>13</day>
    <month>9</month>
    <year>2010</year>
    <singlesPrice>8570</singlesPrice>
    <doublesPrice>7290</doublesPrice>
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    <quadsPrice>0</quadsPrice>
    
  </date>
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    <day>15</day>
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  </date>
  <date>
    <day>25</day>
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    <doublesPrice>7290</doublesPrice>
    <triplesPrice>0</triplesPrice>
    <quadsPrice>0</quadsPrice>
    
  </date>
  <date>
    <day>16</day>
    <month>10</month>
    <year>2010</year>
    <singlesPrice>8570</singlesPrice>
    <doublesPrice>7290</doublesPrice>
    <triplesPrice>0</triplesPrice>
    <quadsPrice>0</quadsPrice>
    
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  <date>
    <day>25</day>
    <month>10</month>
    <year>2010</year>
    <singlesPrice>9670</singlesPrice>
    <doublesPrice>8390</doublesPrice>
    <triplesPrice>0</triplesPrice>
    <quadsPrice>0</quadsPrice>
    
  </date>

</departureDates>

</tour><tour>
  <sourceId>SBN2010</sourceId>
  <title>St. Petersburg &amp; the Baltic Sea</title>
  <summary>
    <![CDATA[Witness the legendary accomplishments of the Vikings to the historic legacies of the czars as you cruise Russia and Scandinavia through the Baltic Sea aboard Le Boreal; explore treasured sites in Copenhagen, Stockholm, Helsinki, St. Petersburg and Tallinn.
]]>
  </summary>
  <description>
    <![CDATA[Take in the sweep of history from Scandinavian capitals to glorious St. Petersburg as you cruise Russia and the Baltics aboard the state-of-the-art Le Boreal. Enjoy a privately guided visit to The State Hermitage Museum; a tour of Catherine the Great&apos;s Summer Palace; walking tours of Helsinki and Tallinn; and two-night stays at 5-star hotels in Copenhagen and Stockholm!
]]>
  </description>
  <link>http://cruise-travel.tauck.com/tours/europe-tours/russia-tours/cruise-russia-sbn-2010</link>
  <durationDays>12</durationDays>
  <durationDetails>12 days and 11 nights.</durationDetails>
  <tripType>ESCORTED_TOUR</tripType>
  <brand>TauckAtSea</brand>
  <subbrand>Tauck at Sea</subbrand>
  <gradeRating>ALL_AGES</gradeRating>
  <comfortRating>COMFORTABLE_MIXED</comfortRating>
  <startingLocation>Copenhagen, Denmark</startingLocation>
  <prices>
    <price currency="USD">6590</price>
    <priceDetails><![CDATA[All prices are per person in U.S. dollars. ]]></priceDetails>
  </prices>
  <images>
    <image isMain="true">http://tools.tauck.com/Files/ItineraryImages/ListImages/img_SBN2010_list.jpg</image>
    <image>http://tools.tauck.com/Files/ItineraryImages/altImages/SBN2010_alt1.jpg</image>
    <image>http://tools.tauck.com/Files/ItineraryImages/altImages/SBN2010_alt2.jpg</image>
    <image>http://tools.tauck.com/Files/ItineraryImages/altImages/SBN2010_alt3.jpg</image>
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  </images>
  <itinerary>
    <![CDATA[• = cruise day

1. Arrive Copenhagen
Tour begins: 6:00 PM, Radisson SAS Royal Hotel, Copenhagen, Denmark. A transfer is included from Copenhagen Airport to the Radisson SAS Royal Hotel in the heart of Denmark’s historic capital city. Join us this evening for a welcome cocktail reception and dinner. Meals D

2. The Sights of Copenhagen
A morning city sightseeing tour of Copenhagen includes Rosenborg Palace, housing the Danish crown jewels and many other treasures, and colorful Nyhavn. Spend the remainder of the day exploring this delightful city as you wish; your elegant landmark hotel is just a short stroll from magical Tivoli Gardens and fashionable Strøget. Meals B

• 3. Roskilde / Embark Le Boreal
Travel to Roskilde, Denmark’s original capital, for a tour of the Viking Ship Museum. Return to Copenhagen and embark Le Boreal for your 7-night cruise. Meals BLD

• 4. Cruising the Baltic Sea
Spend a full day cruising aboard the innovative Le Boreal, launching in May 2010. Enjoy all the amenities your new state-of-the-art yachting cruise vessel has to offer as it makes its way along the Baltic Sea to Tallinn, Estonia. Meals BLD

• 5. Ancient Tallinn
Dock this afternoon in the walled medieval city of Tallinn; this ancient city – now the capital of modern Estonia – captures your heart with its remarkably preserved buildings and monuments. Stroll Tallinn’s weathered cobblestone streets with your local guide, and see 13th-century Toompea Castle and lively Market Square. Meals BLD

• 6. Discover St. Petersburg
Arrive in glorious St. Petersburg this afternoon, where Le Boreal will dock for two nights. Join us for a guided tour today that includes the 18th-century Peter and Paul Fortress and the golden-spired Cathedral, imperial burial ground of the Romanov Dynasty, including the tomb of Peter the Great. Spend the rest of the day as you wish. Meals BLD

• 7. St. Petersburg’s Treasures
On Tauck’s private tour excursions, you’ll visit St. Petersburg’s most revered sights at the best times, to allow for more leisurely exploration. First up, a guided tour of Catherine Palace, summer palace of Catherine the Great. Attend a Russian cultural evening tonight. Meals BLD

• 8. The State Hermitage Museum
Visit The State Hermitage Museum in St. Petersburg today; its vast collections reflect the development of art and world cultures from the Stone Age through the 21st century, and are considered among the world’s finest. Return to the ship as your Baltic Sea cruise continues. Meals BLD

• 9. Helsinki, Finland’s “City By The Sea”
Surrounded on three sides by water and compact in size, Helsinki was one of the world’s first planned municipalities with many must-see sights located close together; guided sightseeing includes Neoclassical Senate Square, Helsinki Cathedral, the Sibelius Monument, Market Square and underground Temppeliaukio (Rock) Church. Meals BLD

10. All About Stockholm, Sweden
Disembark Le Boreal in Stockholm this morning. Sightseeing includes the City Hall and a walking tour of Gamla Stan (Old Town), where the Royal Palace and other sites reveal centuries of Swedish history; the rest of the day is free. Meals B

11. Canal Cruise / Vasa Museum
Discover Stockholm’s remarkable islands on a cruise along the city’s canals, and explore the Vasamuseet (Vasa Museum), home to the ornate royal warship Vasa. One of the world’s mightiest vessels when built, it capsized and sank following its launch in 1628, spending the next 333 years on the bottom of Stockholm’s harbor. Raised in 1961, the historic ship is now the centerpiece of the museum. We invite you to join us for a farewell dinner tonight. Meals BD

12. Journey Home
Tour ends: Stockholm. A transfer from Sheraton Stockholm Hotel to Stockholm’s Arlanda Airport for your flight home is included. Allow a minimum of 21/2 hours for flight check-in. Meals B
]]>
  </itinerary>
  <itineraryDetails>
    <itineraryDay day="1">
  <title>Arrive Copenhagen</title>
  <description>Tour begins: 6:00 PM, Radisson SAS Royal Hotel, Copenhagen, Denmark. A transfer is included from Copenhagen Airport to the Radisson SAS Royal Hotel in the heart of Denmark’s historic capital city. Join us this evening for a welcome cocktail reception and dinner.</description>
  <overnight> Radisson SAS Royal Hotel, Copenhagen, Denmark</overnight>
  <meals> Dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="2">
  <title>The Sights of Copenhagen</title>
  <description>A morning city sightseeing tour of Copenhagen includes Rosenborg Palace, housing the Danish crown jewels and many other treasures, and colorful Nyhavn. Spend the remainder of the day exploring this delightful city as you wish; your elegant landmark hotel is just a short stroll from magical Tivoli Gardens and fashionable Strøget.</description>
  <overnight> Radisson SAS Royal Hotel, Copenhagen, Denmark</overnight>
  <meals> Breakfast</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="3">
  <title>Roskilde / Embark Le Boreal</title>
  <description>Travel to Roskilde, Denmark’s original capital, for a tour of the Viking Ship Museum. Return to Copenhagen and embark Le Boreal for your 7-night cruise.</description>
  <overnight> Cruising aboard Le Boreal</overnight>
  <meals> Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="4">
  <title>Cruising the Baltic Sea</title>
  <description>Spend a full day cruising aboard the innovative Le Boreal, launching in May 2010. Enjoy all the amenities your new state-of-the-art yachting cruise vessel has to offer as it makes its way along the Baltic Sea to Tallinn, Estonia.</description>
  <overnight> Cruising aboard Le Boreal</overnight>
  <meals> Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="5">
  <title>Ancient Tallinn</title>
  <description>Dock this afternoon in the walled medieval city of Tallinn; this ancient city – now the capital of modern Estonia – captures your heart with its remarkably preserved buildings and monuments. Stroll Tallinn’s weathered cobblestone streets with your local guide, and see 13th-century Toompea Castle and lively Market Square.</description>
  <overnight> Cruising aboard Le Boreal</overnight>
  <meals> Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="6">
  <title>Discover St. Petersburg</title>
  <description>Arrive in glorious St. Petersburg this afternoon, where Le Boreal will dock for two nights. Join us for a guided tour today that includes the 18th-century Peter and Paul Fortress and the golden-spired Cathedral, imperial burial ground of the Romanov Dynasty, including the tomb of Peter the Great. Spend the rest of the day as you wish.</description>
  <overnight> Cruising aboard Le Boreal</overnight>
  <meals> Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="7">
  <title>St. Petersburg’s Treasures</title>
  <description>On Tauck’s private tour excursions, you’ll visit St. Petersburg’s most revered sights at the best times, to allow for more leisurely exploration. First up, a guided tour of Catherine Palace, summer palace of Catherine the Great. Attend a Russian cultural evening tonight.</description>
  <overnight> Cruising aboard Le Boreal</overnight>
  <meals> Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="8">
  <title>The State Hermitage Museum</title>
  <description>Visit The State Hermitage Museum in St. Petersburg today; its vast collections reflect the development of art and world cultures from the Stone Age through the 21st century, and are considered among the world’s finest. Return to the ship as your Baltic Sea cruise continues.</description>
  <overnight> Cruising aboard Le Boreal</overnight>
  <meals> Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="9">
  <title>Helsinki, Finland’s “City By The Sea”</title>
  <description>Surrounded on three sides by water and compact in size, Helsinki was one of the world’s first planned municipalities with many must-see sights located close together; guided sightseeing includes Neoclassical Senate Square, Helsinki Cathedral, the Sibelius Monument, Market Square and underground Temppeliaukio (Rock) Church.</description>
  <overnight> Cruising aboard Le Boreal</overnight>
  <meals> Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="10">
  <title>All About Stockholm, Sweden</title>
  <description>Disembark Le Boreal in Stockholm this morning. Sightseeing includes the City Hall and a walking tour of Gamla Stan (Old Town), where the Royal Palace and other sites reveal centuries of Swedish history; the rest of the day is free.</description>
  <overnight> Sheraton Stockholm Hotel, Stockholm, Sweden</overnight>
  <meals> Breakfast</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="11">
  <title>Canal Cruise / Vasa Museum</title>
  <description>Discover Stockholm’s remarkable islands on a cruise along the city’s canals, and explore the Vasamuseet (Vasa Museum), home to the ornate royal warship Vasa. One of the world’s mightiest vessels when built, it capsized and sank following its launch in 1628, spending the next 333 years on the bottom of Stockholm’s harbor. Raised in 1961, the historic ship is now the centerpiece of the museum. We invite you to join us for a farewell dinner tonight.</description>
  <overnight> Sheraton Stockholm Hotel, Stockholm, Sweden</overnight>
  <meals> Breakfast, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="12">
  <title>Journey Home</title>
  <description>Tour ends: Stockholm. A transfer from Sheraton Stockholm Hotel to Stockholm’s Arlanda Airport for your flight home is included. Allow a minimum of 21/2 hours for flight check-in.</description>
  <overnight></overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast</meals>
</itineraryDay>
  </itineraryDetails>
  <highlights>
		
				7-Night Cruise on Regent Seven Seas Voyager ~ Copenhagen ~ Stockholm 
</highlights>
  <tauckValues>
    <value order="1">All gratuities to Tauck Director(s), ship staff aboard Le Boreal and local guides</value><value order="2">Traveling with Taucks private group and the same Tauck Director(s) on land and at sea</value><value order="3">Private Tauck Shore Excursions  $1154 Value!</value><value order="4">Two nights each in Copenhagen and Stockholm at premier hotels in the heart of the city centers; guided walking tours of historic Helsinki and Tallinn</value><value order="5">Privately guided visit through The State Hermitage Museum in St. Petersburg and a tour of the Summer Palace of Catherine the Great in Pushkin</value><value order="6">Special Russian cultural evening in St. Petersburg</value><value order="7">Cocktail hour, all-day soft drinks, wine with dinner aboard ship</value><value order="8">Most meals (11 breakfasts, 7 lunches, 9 dinners)</value><value order="9">Service charges, applicable fuel surcharges, taxes, porterage and airport transfers</value>
  </tauckValues>  
  
</tour><tour>
  <sourceId>SBS2010</sourceId>
  <title>St. Petersburg &amp; the Baltic Sea</title>
  <summary>
    <![CDATA[Witness the legendary accomplishments of the Vikings to the historic legacies of the czars as your voyage to Scandinavia and Russia cruises through the Baltic Sea; explore treasured sites in Copenhagen, Stockholm, Helsinki, St. Petersburg and Tallinn.
]]>
  </summary>
  <description>
    <![CDATA[Take in the sweep of history from Scandinavian capitals to glorious St.
Petersburg as this voyage from Stockholm to Copenhagen and Russia cruises the Baltic Sea aboard the
state-of-the-art yacht Le Boreal. Enjoy a privately guided visit to
The State Hermitage Museum; a tour of Catherine the Great&apos;s Summer
Palace; walking tours of Helsinki and Tallinn; and two-night stays at
5-star hotels in Copenhagen and Stockholm!
]]>
  </description>
  <link>http://cruise-travel.tauck.com/tours/europe-tours/russia-tours/russia-cruises-sbs-2010</link>
  <durationDays>12</durationDays>
  <durationDetails>12 days and 11 nights.</durationDetails>
  <tripType>ESCORTED_TOUR</tripType>
  <brand>TauckAtSea</brand>
  <subbrand>Tauck at Sea</subbrand>
  <gradeRating>ALL_AGES</gradeRating>
  <comfortRating>COMFORTABLE_MIXED</comfortRating>
  <startingLocation>Stockholm, Sweden</startingLocation>
  <prices>
    <price currency="USD">6590</price>
    <priceDetails><![CDATA[All prices are per person in U.S. dollars. ]]></priceDetails>
  </prices>
  <images>
    <image isMain="true">http://tools.tauck.com/Files/ItineraryImages/ListImages/img_SBS2010_list.jpg</image>
    <image>http://tools.tauck.com/Files/ItineraryImages/altImages/SBS2010_alt1.jpg</image>
    <image>http://tools.tauck.com/Files/ItineraryImages/altImages/SBS2010_alt2.jpg</image>
    <image>http://tools.tauck.com/Files/ItineraryImages/altImages/SBS2010_alt3.jpg</image>
    <image isMap="true">http://tools.tauck.com/Files/ItineraryImages/MapImages/map_SBS2010.jpg</image>
  </images>
  <itinerary>
    <![CDATA[• = cruise day

1. Arrive Stockholm
Tour begins: 6:00 PM, Sheraton Stockholm Hotel. A transfer is included from Arlanda Airport to the Sheraton Stockholm Hotel. Meet your fellow Tauck travelers at tonight’s cocktail reception and dinner. Meals D

2. All About Stockholm
City sightseeing with a local guide includes the Stockholm City Hall and a walking tour of Gamla Stan (Old Town), where the Royal Palace and other sites reveal centuries of Swedish history and culture. Spend the remainder of the day exploring the sights as you please. Meals B

• 3. Vasa Museum / Embark Le Boreal
Discover Stockholm’s remarkable islands on a cruise along the city’s canals, and explore the Vasamuseet (Vasa Museum) home to the ornate warship Vasa. Embark Le Boreal this afternoon for the start of your Baltic cruise. Meals BD

• 4. Helsinki, City by the Sea
Dock in Helsinki, Finland today. A guided tour includes Senate Square, Helsinki Cathedral, the Sibelius Monument, Market Square and Temppeliaukio (“Rock”) Church. Optional afternoon visits include the Seurasaari Open-Air Museum and Fortress of Suomenlinna. Meals BLD

• 5. The State Hermitage Museum
The treasures of The State Hermitage Museum – set within Catherine the Great’s Winter Palace and four other buildings in St. Petersburg, and renowned as the largest museum in the world – await on a guided visit today. End the day with Russian cultural entertainment. Meals BLD

• 6. Cultural Treasures of St. Petersburg
A guided tour includes the imposing 18th-century Peter and Paul Fortress, St. Petersburg’s oldest building, and its adjacent golden-spired Cathedral, imperial burial ground of the Romanov Dynasty; and Church of Our Savior on Spilled Blood. Spend the remainder of the day enjoying the city’s rich legacy of history and the arts as you wish. Meals BLD

• 7. Catherine the Great’s Summer Palace  
See the Victory Monument en route to Tsarskoye Selo (Pushkin) for a tour of Empress Catherine the Great’s stunning Summer Palace, begun in 1717 and expanded in later years in the Baroque style. View the palace’s fabulous interiors, including the restored Amber Room and the gardens. Lunch today showcases Russian folkloric entertainment in a local restaurant. Meals BLD

• 8. Ancient Tallinn
Dock in Tallinn, the capital city of Estonia, and one of the best preserved medieval cities in Europe. A walking tour with a local guide takes you to its historic walled center. See St. Nicholas Church and 13th-century Toompea Castle, now the Parliament House, and walk through Market Square. The rest of the afternoon is free; a shuttle is available to take you back to the ship throughout the day. Meals BLD

• 9. Cruising the Baltic Sea
Spend the last day of your cruise at sea enjoying Le Boreal’s many on-board amenities and the warm camaraderie of your fellow shipmates. Join us for the Captain’s farewell dinner tonight as we set sail for Denmark. Meals BLD

10. Disembark in Copenhagen 
Disembark Le Boreal in Copenhagen, Denmark, for a two-night stay. A sightseeing tour includes Rosenborg Palace, where the Crown Jewels and the Danish Crown Regalia reside, and a visit to the colorful 17th-century waterfront district of Nyhavn. Your landmark hotel is close to Tivoli Gardens and the fashionable Strøget. Meals B

11. Roskilde / Viking Ship Museum 
Travel to Roskilde for a tour of the Vikingeskibshallen, the Viking Ship Museum, where you’ll view five restored 11th-century ships, including a longship and a Viking man o’ war. Enjoy tonight’s farewell dinner. Meals BLD

12. Journey Home
Tour ends: Copenhagen. Fly home anytime. A transfer is included from the Radisson SAS Royal Hotel to Copenhagen Airport. Allow 2 1/2 hours for flight check-in. Meals B

]]>
  </itinerary>
  <itineraryDetails>
    <itineraryDay day="1">
  <title>Arrive Stockholm</title>
  <description>Tour begins: 6:00 PM, Sheraton Stockholm Hotel.  A transfer is included from Arlanda Airport to the Sheraton Stockholm Hotel.  Meet your fellow Tauck travelers at tonight&apos;s cocktail reception and dinner.  Meals D</description>
  <overnight> Sheraton Stockholm Hotel, Stockholm, Sweden</overnight>
  <meals> Dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="2">
  <title>All About Stockholm</title>
  <description>City sightseeing with a local guide includes the Stockholm City Hall and a walking tour of Gamla Stan (Old Town), where the Royal Palace and other sites reveal centuries of Swedish history and culture.  Spend the remainder of the day exploring the sights as you please.  Meals B</description>
  <overnight> Sheraton Stockholm Hotel, Stockholm, Sweden</overnight>
  <meals> Breakfast</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="3">
  <title>Vasa Museum / Embark Le Boreal</title>
  <description>Discover Stockholm&apos;s remarkable islands on a cruise along the city&apos;s canals, and explore the Vasamuseet (Vasa Museum) home to the ornate warship Vasa.  Embark Le Boreal this afternoon for the start of your Baltic cruise.</description>
  <overnight> Cruising aboard Le Boreal</overnight>
  <meals> Breakfast, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="4">
  <title>Helsinki, City by the Sea</title>
  <description>Dock in Helsinki, Finland today.  A guided tour includes Senate Square, Helsinki Cathedral, the Sibelius Monument, Market Square and Temppeliaukio (“Rock”) Church.  Optional afternoon visits include the Seurasaari Open-Air Museum and Fortress of Suomenlinna.</description>
  <overnight> Cruising aboard Le Boreal</overnight>
  <meals> Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="5">
  <title>The State Hermitage Museum</title>
  <description>The treasures of The State Hermitage Museum - set within Catherine the Great&apos;s Winter Palace and four other buildings in St.  Petersburg, and renowned as the largest museum in the world - await on a guided visit today.  End the day with Russian cultural entertainment.</description>
  <overnight> Cruising aboard Le Boreal</overnight>
  <meals> Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="6">
  <title>Cultural Treasures of St.  Petersburg</title>
  <description>A guided tour includes the imposing 18th-century Peter and Paul Fortress, St.  Petersburg&apos;s oldest building, and its adjacent golden-spired Cathedral, imperial burial ground of the Romanov Dynasty; and Church of Our Savior on Spilled Blood.  Spend the remainder of the day enjoying the city&apos;s rich legacy of history and the arts as you wish.</description>
  <overnight> Cruising aboard Le Boreal</overnight>
  <meals> Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="7">
  <title>Catherine the Great&apos;s Summer Palace </title>
  <description>See the Victory Monument en route to Tsarskoye Selo (Pushkin) for a tour of Empress Catherine the Great&apos;s stunning Summer Palace, begun in 1717 and expanded in later years in the Baroque style.  View the palace&apos;s fabulous interiors, including the restored Amber Room and the gardens.  Lunch today showcases Russian folkloric entertainment in a local restaurant.</description>
  <overnight> Cruising aboard Le Boreal</overnight>
  <meals> Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="8">
  <title>Ancient Tallinn</title>
  <description>Dock in Tallinn, the capital city of Estonia, and one of the best preserved medieval cities in Europe.  A walking tour with a local guide takes you to its historic walled center.  See St.  Nicholas Church and 13th-century Toompea Castle, now the Parliament House, and walk through Market Square.  The rest of the afternoon is free; a shuttle is available to take you back to the ship throughout the day.</description>
  <overnight> Cruising aboard Le Boreal</overnight>
  <meals> Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="9">
  <title>Cruising the Baltic Sea</title>
  <description>Spend the last day of your cruise at sea enjoying Le Boreal&apos;s many on-board amenities and the warm camaraderie of your fellow shipmates.  Join us for the Captain&apos;s farewell dinner tonight as we set sail for Denmark.</description>
  <overnight> Cruising aboard Le Boreal</overnight>
  <meals> Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="10">
  <title>Disembark in Copenhagen </title>
  <description>Disembark Le Boreal in Copenhagen, Denmark, for a two&amp;#45;night stay.  A sightseeing tour includes Rosenborg Palace, where the Crown Jewels and the Danish Crown Regalia reside, and a visit to the colorful 17th&amp;#45;century waterfront district of Nyhavn.  Your landmark hotel is close to Tivoli Gardens and the fashionable Str&amp;#248;get.  Meals B</description>
  <overnight> Radisson SAS Royal Hotel, Copenhagen, Denmark</overnight>
  <meals> Breakfast</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="11">
  <title>Roskilde / Viking Ship Museum </title>
  <description>Travel to Roskilde for a tour of the Vikingeskibshallen, the Viking Ship Museum, where you&apos;ll view five restored 11th&amp;#45;century ships, including a longship and a Viking man o&apos; war.  Enjoy tonight&apos;s farewell dinner.  Meals BLD</description>
  <overnight> Radisson SAS Royal Hotel, Copenhagen, Denmark</overnight>
  <meals> Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="12">
  <title>Journey Home</title>
  <description>Tour ends: Copenhagen. Fly home anytime. A transfer is included from the Radisson SAS Royal Hotel to Copenhagen Airport. Allow 2 1/2 hours for flight check-in.</description>
  <overnight></overnight>
  <meals> Breakfast</meals>
</itineraryDay>
  </itineraryDetails>
  <highlights>
		

7-Night Cruise on Regent Seven Seas Voyager ~ Stockholm ~ Copenhagen 
</highlights>
  <tauckValues>
    <value order="1">All gratuities to Tauck Director(s), ship staff aboard Le Boreal and local guides</value><value order="2">Traveling with Taucks private group and the same Tauck Director(s) on land and at sea</value><value order="3">Private Tauck Shore Excursions  $1154 Value!</value><value order="4">Two nights each in Copenhagen and Stockholm at premier hotels in the heart of the city centers; guided walking tours of historic Helsinki and Tallinn</value><value order="5">Privately guided visit through The State Hermitage Museum in St. Petersburg and a tour of the Summer Palace of Catherine the Great in Pushkin</value><value order="6">Special Russian cultural evening in St. Petersburg</value><value order="7">Cocktail hour, all-day soft drinks, wine with dinner aboard ship</value><value order="8">Most meals (11 breakfasts, 7 lunches, 9 dinners)</value><value order="9">Service charges, applicable fuel surcharges, taxes, porterage and airport transfers</value>
  </tauckValues>  
  <departureDates>
    <date>
    <day>9</day>
    <month>7</month>
    <year>2010</year>
    <singlesPrice>8420</singlesPrice>
    <doublesPrice>6590</doublesPrice>
    <triplesPrice>4962</triplesPrice>
    <quadsPrice>0</quadsPrice>
    <cabins>
<cabin>
  <categoryCode>SBS20101</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>1</occupancy>
  <description>Superior Cabin - Deck 3</description>
  <suppliment>0</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>8420</totalPrice>
</cabin>
<cabin>
  <categoryCode>SBS20101</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>2</occupancy>
  <description>Superior Cabin - Deck 3</description>
  <suppliment>0</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>6590</totalPrice>
</cabin>
<cabin>
  <categoryCode>SBS20101</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>3</occupancy>
  <description>Superior Cabin - Deck 3</description>
  <suppliment>0</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>4962</totalPrice>
</cabin>
<cabin>
  <categoryCode>SBS20102</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>1</occupancy>
  <description>Deluxe Cabin - Deck 3</description>
  <suppliment>375</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>8795</totalPrice>
</cabin>
<cabin>
  <categoryCode>SBS20102</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>2</occupancy>
  <description>Deluxe Cabin - Deck 3</description>
  <suppliment>375</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>6965</totalPrice>
</cabin>
<cabin>
  <categoryCode>SBS20103</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>1</occupancy>
  <description>Prestige Cabin - Deck 4</description>
  <suppliment>1178</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>9598</totalPrice>
</cabin>
<cabin>
  <categoryCode>SBS20103</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>2</occupancy>
  <description>Prestige Cabin - Deck 4</description>
  <suppliment>750</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>7340</totalPrice>
</cabin>
<cabin>
  <categoryCode>SBS20104</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>1</occupancy>
  <description>Prestige Cabin - Deck 5</description>
  <suppliment>1368</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>9788</totalPrice>
</cabin>
<cabin>
  <categoryCode>SBS20104</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>2</occupancy>
  <description>Prestige Cabin - Deck 5</description>
  <suppliment>940</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>7530</totalPrice>
</cabin>
<cabin>
  <categoryCode>SBS20105</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>1</occupancy>
  <description>Prestige Cabin - Deck 6</description>
  <suppliment>1553</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>9973</totalPrice>
</cabin>
<cabin>
  <categoryCode>SBS20105</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>2</occupancy>
  <description>Prestige Cabin - Deck 6</description>
  <suppliment>1125</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>7715</totalPrice>
</cabin>
<cabin>
  <categoryCode>SBS20106</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>1</occupancy>
  <description>Deluxe Suite - Deck 6</description>
  <suppliment>0</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>8420</totalPrice>
</cabin>
<cabin>
  <categoryCode>SBS20106</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>2</occupancy>
  <description>Deluxe Suite - Deck 6</description>
  <suppliment>2060</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>8650</totalPrice>
</cabin>
<cabin>
  <categoryCode>SBS20107</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>1</occupancy>
  <description>Prestige Suite - Deck 5</description>
  <suppliment>0</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>8420</totalPrice>
</cabin>
<cabin>
  <categoryCode>SBS20107</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>2</occupancy>
  <description>Prestige Suite - Deck 5</description>
  <suppliment>2995</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>9585</totalPrice>
</cabin>
<cabin>
  <categoryCode>SBS20107</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>3</occupancy>
  <description>Prestige Suite - Deck 5</description>
  <suppliment>1997</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>6959</totalPrice>
</cabin>
<cabin>
  <categoryCode>SBS20108</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>1</occupancy>
  <description>Prestige Suite - Deck 6</description>
  <suppliment>0</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>8420</totalPrice>
</cabin>
<cabin>
  <categoryCode>SBS20108</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>2</occupancy>
  <description>Prestige Suite - Deck 6</description>
  <suppliment>3370</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>9960</totalPrice>
</cabin>
<cabin>
  <categoryCode>SBS20108</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>3</occupancy>
  <description>Prestige Suite - Deck 6</description>
  <suppliment>2248</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>7210</totalPrice>
</cabin></cabins>
  </date>

</departureDates>

</tour><tour>
  <sourceId>SC2010</sourceId>
  <title>Scandinavia</title>
  <summary>
    <![CDATA[Discover a Nordic wonderland on Tauck&apos;s 2-week Scandinavia tour through Sweden, Denmark and Norway – cruising spectacular fjords, gazing at glaciers, viewing Viking ships, riding one of the world&apos;s steepest railway lines through the mountains, exploring medieval ports, and visiting a stave church, a Danish castle, Tivoli Gardens and more.
]]>
  </summary>
  <description>
    <![CDATA[Experience a Nordic world of fjords, castles, glaciers, and the legacy of the Vikings on Tauck&apos;s comprehensive Scandinavia tour. Travel by train, ferry, and coach through Sweden, Denmark, and Norway. Traverse the Swedish countryside along the Yellow Roads... cruise through Norway&apos;s dramatic fjords... hike to the foot of a glacier... visit a traditional wooden stave church... ride the Flåmsbana, one of the world&apos;s steepest railway lines... tour Danish castles and palaces... have fun at Tivoli Gardens. Discover the capitals of Stockholm, Copenhagen, and Oslo; see the Danish Crown Jewels, royal Viking ships, a well-preserved medieval port, and the warship Vasa, rescued after more than 300 years on the bottom of Stockholm harbor. Our two-week Scandinavia tour has it all!
]]>
  </description>
  <link>http://www.tauck.com/tours/europe-tours/scandinavia-travel/scandinavia-tour-sc-2010</link>
  <durationDays>14</durationDays>
  <durationDetails>14 days and 13 nights.</durationDetails>
  <tripType>ESCORTED_TOUR</tripType>
  <brand>TWD</brand>
  <subbrand>Europe</subbrand>
  <gradeRating>ALL_AGES</gradeRating>
  <comfortRating>COMFORTABLE_MIXED</comfortRating>
  <startingLocation>Stockholm, Sweden</startingLocation>
  <prices>
    <price currency="USD">4890</price>
    <priceDetails><![CDATA[All prices are per person in U.S. dollars. ]]></priceDetails>
  </prices>
  <images>
    <image isMain="true">http://tools.tauck.com/Files/ItineraryImages/ListImages/img_SC2010_list.jpg</image>
    <image>http://tools.tauck.com/Files/ItineraryImages/altImages/SC2010_alt1.jpg</image>
    <image>http://tools.tauck.com/Files/ItineraryImages/altImages/SC2010_alt2.jpg</image>
    <image>http://tools.tauck.com/Files/ItineraryImages/altImages/SC2010_alt3.jpg</image>
    <image isMap="true">http://tools.tauck.com/Files/ItineraryImages/MapImages/map_SC2010.jpg</image>
  </images>
  <itinerary>
    <![CDATA[]]>
  </itinerary>
  <itineraryDetails>
    <itineraryDay day="1">
  <title>Arrive Stockholm</title>
  <description>Tour begins: 6:00 PM, Sheraton Stockholm Hotel. Upon arrival of your flight, a transfer is included from Stockholm Arlanda Airport to Sheraton Stockholm Hotel. Sweden’s historic capital is set on 14 islands laced with canals and waterways; your hotel is located in the heart of downtown, next to Old Town. Meet your fellow travelers this evening at our welcome reception and dinner in the hotel.</description>
  <overnight>Sheraton Stockholm Hotel, Stockholm, Sweden</overnight>
  <meals>Dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="2">
  <title>Discover Stockholm / Vasa Museum</title>
  <description>Stockholm sightseeing includes a guided visit to City Hall, built in the National Romantic style. Tour the Vasa Museum, home to the world’s only intact 17th-century warship, raised after 333 years at the bottom of Stockholm harbor. Walk through Gamla Stan (Old Town) at your leisure.</description>
  <overnight>Sheraton Stockholm Hotel, Stockholm, Sweden</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="3">
  <title>Journey to Toftaholm</title>
  <description>Make your way through the beautiful Swedish countryside, with its gentle meadows, forests, lakes, and canals. Arrive in Toftaholm; your accommodation is a small family-run lakeside hotel that is truly “away from it all.” Enjoy a folk dance performance and dine at the hotel tonight.</description>
  <overnight>Toftaholm Herrgård, Toftaholm, Sweden</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="4">
  <title>Crossing to Copenhagen</title>
  <description>Visit Sofiero Slott in Helsingborg, a majestic 1860s palace with magnificent grounds. After lunch, travel from Sweden across the new Oresund Bridge/Tunnel to Copenhagen, Denmark, where your hotel overlooks the historic harbor. Have dinner this evening at the Custom House.</description>
  <overnight>Copenhagen Marriott Hotel, Copenhagen, Denmark</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="5">
  <title>The Many Charms of Copenhagen </title>
  <description>Get to know Denmark’s capital on a city tour that includes a visit to the 17th-century Renaissance-style Rosenborg Palace, which houses the Danish crown jewels. Spend free time in Nyhavn and along the Stroget; enjoy lunch and dinner on your own. Tauck includes a ticket to visit the famous Tivoli Gardens amusement park at your leisure tonight.</description>
  <overnight>Copenhagen Marriott Hotel, Copenhagen, Denmark</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="6">
  <title>North Sealand / Ferry to Norway</title>
  <description>Set out for Frederiksborg Castle; built on three islands within a small lake, it is one of the finest examples of Danish Renaissance style. Tauck’s Yellow Roads through North Sealand lead to a rustic country inn where you’ll dine on local fare. Return to Copenhagen along the Danish Riviera; visit the Museum of Danish Resistance. Board an overnight ferry bound for Norway this afternoon.</description>
  <overnight>Sailing aboard DFDS Ferry to Oslo</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="7">
  <title>Around Oslo / Viking Ship Museum</title>
  <description>See an array of beautiful sights along the coastline as your ship heads up the narrows of the Oslo Fjord to Norway’s capital city of Oslo. A guided tour includes a stop at the stunning new Oslo Opera House, which opened in 2008. Join your local guide for a tour of the Viking Ship Museum on the Bygdøy Peninsula, featuring ships and artifacts from the Viking era; if you wish, visit the Kon-Tiki or Fram museums as well. Holmenkollen has been the site of a world-famous ski jump for more then a century; visit its new ski jump facility opening in 2010, and have lunch. View some of 212 bronze and granite works by Norwegian sculptor Gustav Vigeland at Vigeland Sculpture Park in Oslo; spend tonight at the landmark Hotel Continental in the heart of Oslo.</description>
  <overnight>Hotel Continental, Oslo, Norway</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="8">
  <title>Oslo / Gol / The Flåm Railway</title>
  <description>Venture into the countryside, stopping for lunch in Gol before departing on a journey on the Norwegian Railway System to Myrdal for the incredible descent to Flåm via the Flåm Railway (Flåmsbana). This masterpiece of Norwegian engineering is one of the world’s steepest railway lines on normal gauge; descend 2,600 feet from waterfalls to ravines to sheer cliffs! Overnight at the Flåmsbrygga Hotel.</description>
  <overnight>Flåmsbrygga Hotel, Flåm, Norway</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="9">
  <title>Stave Church / Naeroyfjord / Loen</title>
  <description>The Borgund Stave Church in Laerdal is among the best-preserved of Norway’s iconic stave churches; it’s changed little over the past 800 years! Visit it, then drive to Gudvangen for a ferry cruise and lunch on the Naeroyfjord, one of Norway’s narrowest fjords; visit the Norwegian Glacier Center. Spend the next three nights at a mountain resort on the spectacular Nordfjord; dig into a barbecue dinner tonight.</description>
  <overnight>Hotel Alexandra, Loen, Norway</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="10">
  <title>Visit to Briksdal Glacier</title>
  <description>Journey to Briksdal Glacier, among Norway’s most inspirational natural wonders. Ride aboard a “Troll Car” past thundering waterfalls, then take a short hike to the foot of the glacier for astounding views. After a family-style lunch, return to Loen to explore, swim or enjoy your resort’s spa amenities, attend a lecture and have dinner.</description>
  <overnight>Hotel Alexandra, Loen, Norway</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="11">
  <title>Dalsnibba / Geirangerfjord / Hellesylt</title>
  <description>Weather permitting, drive to Dalsnibba, the region’s highest point reached by road, for great scenery; take a ferry cruise on the beautiful Geirangerfjord past cascading waterfalls to Hellesylt. Have lunch at the Hotel Union Oye.</description>
  <overnight>Hotel Alexandra, Loen, Norway</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="12">
  <title>Through the Fjordlands to Bergen</title>
  <description>Travel south through magnificent Norwegian fjordlands, ferry from Lavik to Oppedal, and continue to Bergen, with its busy harbor and famed open-air fish market. Your hotel is within walking distance of the historic wharf district, Bryggen, dating back to the days of the Hanseatic League.</description>
  <overnight>Radisson Blu Hotel Norge, Bergen, Norway</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="13">
  <title>Bergen / Troldhaugen</title>
  <description>Bergen is the gateway to the fjords, characterized by its location on the water and a centuries-old legacy of sea trade, which you’ll explore on a guided city tour. An excursion to Troldhaugen visits the former home of Norway’s beloved composer Edvard Grieg with your local guide. Return to Bergen for time spent at leisure. Please join us for a farewell reception and banquet dinner tonight.</description>
  <overnight>Radisson Blu Hotel Norge, Bergen, Norway</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="14">
  <title>Journey Home</title>
  <description>Tour ends: Bergen. Fly home anytime. A transfer from Radisson SAS Hotel Norge, Bergen to Bergen Airport is included. Allow 2 1/2 hours for flight check-in.</description>
  <overnight></overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast</meals>
</itineraryDay>
  </itineraryDetails>
  <highlights>		
Stockholm ~ Swedish Lakes ~ Copenhagen ~ Oslo ~ Fjords ~ Bergen 
</highlights>
  <tauckValues>
    <value order="1">TAUCKS YELLOW ROADS! In contrast to the dramatic fjords of Norway, your journey from Stockholm to Malm takes you through coniferous forests and rich farmland</value><value order="2">A ferry cruise on the waters of the spectacular Naeroyfjord, one of Norways narrowest fjords</value><value order="3">A rail journey to Flm on the Flmsbana, one of the worlds steepest railway lines, descending some 2,600 feet</value><value order="4">Visits to Vasa Museum, Rosenborg Palace, Frederiksborg Castle, Borgund Stave Church, Viking Ship Museum and more</value><value order="5">Admission to Copenhagens Tivoli Gardens</value><value order="6">Airport transfers upon arrival and departure</value><value order="7">31 meals (13 breakfasts, 9 lunches &amp; 9 dinners), service charges, gratuities to local guides, admission fees, taxes and porterage</value>
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</tour><tour>
  <sourceId>SD2010</sourceId>
  <title>A Week In... Scotland</title>
  <summary>
    <![CDATA[An enriching Scotland tour – from Rob Roy country to the Highlands... Edinburgh&apos;s eclectic blend of history and modern ingenuity... tranquil Loch Lomond... Sterling and Cawdor castles... a private distillery tour... Scottish music and dance... and the dramatic scenery of Inverness. 
]]>
  </summary>
  <description>
    <![CDATA[The haunting skirl of the bagpipes during a private evening in Inverness... treasured family tartans... wee drams of single malt whiskies on a private distillery tour... a private cruise of fabled Loch Lomond... the strong traditions of the Clans... fascinating history at Stirling, Edinburgh, Cawdor and Blair castles... incredible scenery in the Highlands and along brooding Loch Ness... a uniquely vibrant culture lovingly preserved in the capital of Edinburg – experience all this and more on Tauck&apos;s weeklong Scotland tour! 
]]>
  </description>
  <link>http://www.tauck.com/tours/europe-tours/great-britain-and-ireland-tours/scotland-tour-sd-2010</link>
  <durationDays>8</durationDays>
  <durationDetails>8 days and 7 nights.</durationDetails>
  <tripType>ESCORTED_TOUR</tripType>
  <brand>TWD</brand>
  <subbrand>Europe</subbrand>
  <gradeRating>ALL_AGES</gradeRating>
  <comfortRating>COMFORTABLE_MIXED</comfortRating>
  <startingLocation>Glasgow, Scotland</startingLocation>
  <prices>
    <price currency="USD">3290</price>
    <priceDetails><![CDATA[All prices are per person in U.S. dollars. ]]></priceDetails>
  </prices>
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  <itinerary>
    <![CDATA[]]>
  </itinerary>
  <itineraryDetails>
    <itineraryDay day="1">
  <title>Arrive Glasgow </title>
  <description>Tour begins:&amp;nbsp; 5:30 PM, Cameron House. A transfer is included from Glasgow Airport to Cameron House. Your hotel is an impressive Scottish baronial manor house set on 100 acres leading down to the shores of Loch Lomond. Join us tonight for a private cocktail reception aboard a cruise on the famous loch, followed by dinner at the hotel.</description>
  <overnight>Cameron House, Loch Lomond, Scotland</overnight>
  <meals>Dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="2">
  <title>Stirling Castle / Glenturret Distillery</title>
  <description>Visit Stirling Castle, a majestic example of Scottish Renaissance architecture; the town developed around the castle. Scotland’s oldest single Highland malt distillery is in Perthshire; a private tour of Glenturret Distillery takes you behind-the-scenes to witness the art of whisky-making, complete with a tasting. Journey into the Trossachs, known as Rob Roy country, and return to the hotel for an evening at your leisure.&amp;nbsp;</description>
  <overnight>Cameron House, Loch Lomond, Scotland</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="3">
  <title>The Great Glen to the Highlands</title>
  <description>Journey into the Scottish Highlands through the moors, lochs, forests, and craggy mountains of The Great Glen, from Fort William to Loch Ness. Scotland’s 200-year-old network of inland waterways and canals connect the countryside. Visit Fort Augustus for a look at the dramatic lochs along the Caledonian Canal, then on to Inverness.</description>
  <overnight>Kingsmills Hotel, Inverness, Scotland</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="4">
  <title>Culloden / Cawdor Castle / Inverness</title>
  <description>Delve into Scottish history on visits to the ancient burial site at Clava Cairns and at Culloden, site of the battle of 1746 that divided families and clans. Cawdor Castle is a medieval fairy-tale castle with magnificent gardens; learn all about the Macbeth connection on a visit. Tonight, discover the history of the Scottish kilt and tartans, plus Scottish entertainment featuring bagpipers and Highland dancers.</description>
  <overnight>Kingsmills Hotel, Inverness, Scotland</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="5">
  <title>Visit 16th-Century Blair Castle</title>
  <description>From Inverness, travel Tauck’s Yellow Roads through the Cairngorm and Grampian mountains to Blair Atholl, for a visit to Blair Castle. The famed white castle, beneath forested slopes above the River Garry, contains over 30 rooms featuring unique relics depicting 16th-century Highland life. Arrive in Edinburgh; your hotel, The Balmoral, is a luxury hotel in the heart of the city’s shopping area on Princes Street in New Town.</description>
  <overnight>The Balmoral, Edinburgh, Scotland</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="6">
  <title>Explore Edinburgh</title>
  <description>Begin the day with a privately guided sightseeing tour of Edinburgh – you’ll be accompanied by a local expert. Visit 11th-century Edinburgh Castle, displaying the Stone of Scone, on which most Scottish kings were crowned. You’ll also visit the Palace of Holyroodhouse, the Queen’s official residence when she is in Edinburgh (subject to closure); it is connected to Edinburgh Castle by the Royal Mile, the main thoroughfare of Old Town. Special Tauck Highlight – tours that are departing August 1 – 22 will attend an evening outdoor performance of the Edinburgh Military Tattoo, performed by Scottish military units.</description>
  <overnight>The Balmoral, Edinburgh, Scotland</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="7">
  <title>Edinburgh / St. Andrews</title>
  <description>Today is yours to spend pursuing what interests you most in Edinburgh – there’s a treasure trove of historic sites, museums, galleries and gardens. Or join us on a trip to legendary St. Andrews, for a day free to explore this seaside town that has hosted some of the greatest names in golf. Join us this evening for a farewell cocktail reception and banquet dinner.</description>
  <overnight>The Balmoral, Edinburgh, Scotland</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="8">
  <title>Journey Home</title>
  <description>Tour Ends: Edinburgh. Fly home anytime; a transfer is included from The Balmoral to Edinburgh Airport. Allow a minimum of 2 1/2 hours for flight check-in.</description>
  <overnight></overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast</meals>
</itineraryDay>
  </itineraryDetails>
  <highlights>		
Glasgow ~ Loch Lomond ~ Inverness ~ Edinburgh ~ St. Andrews 
</highlights>
  <tauckValues>
    <value order="1">TAUCKS YELLOW?ROADS! Drive through the heart of the Scottish Highlands as Tauck takes you off-the-beaten path for dramatic scenery youll never forget</value><value order="2">Taucks private Scottish entertainment in Inverness featuring bagpipers and Highland dancers; youll also learn about the history of the kilt and tartans</value><value order="3">private tour of Glenturret Distillery, Scotlands oldest single Highland malt distillery, and a private cruise on Loch Lomond</value><value order="4">A performance of the Edinburgh Military Tattoo for tours departing August 1  22</value><value order="5">Airport transfers upon arrival and departure as noted</value><value order="6">16 meals (7 breakfasts, 3 lunches &amp; 6 dinners), service charges, gratuities to local guides, admission fees, taxes and porterage</value>
  </tauckValues>  
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    <day>10</day>
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    <day>29</day>
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    <day>12</day>
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    <day>26</day>
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</tour><tour>
  <sourceId>SIN2010</sourceId>
  <title>Sicily, the Amalfi Coast &amp; Rome</title>
  <summary>
    <![CDATA[Tauck&apos;s Italy cruise aboard the yacht Le Ponant is complemented by a land stay in Rome featuring a Tauck Exclusive – an after-hours visit to the Vatican Museums! See the historic sights of Sicily, the Amalfi Coast, Naples, Malta, Rome and the remote Aeolian Isles on this 11-day journey.
]]>
  </summary>
  <description>
    <![CDATA[Tauck&apos;s southern Italy cruise aboard Le Ponant features a night on Malta, two nights in Rome – with a Tauck Exclusive, after-hours visit to the Vatican Museums – and calls on Sicily, the Amalfi Coast, and remote Aeolian Isles. Explore Siracusa&apos;s Greek Theater... Segesta&apos;s unfinished temple... Valletta and Lipari... and the breathtaking Amalfi Coast. Enjoy traditional Sicilian entertainment, a night sail past Stromboli and a visit to Herculaneum&apos;s ruins.
]]>
  </description>
  <link>http://cruise-travel.tauck.com/tours/europe-tours/italy-tours/italy-cruise-sin-2010</link>
  <durationDays>11</durationDays>
  <durationDetails>11 days and 10 nights.</durationDetails>
  <tripType>ESCORTED_TOUR</tripType>
  <brand>TauckAtSea</brand>
  <subbrand>Tauck at Sea</subbrand>
  <gradeRating>ALL_AGES</gradeRating>
  <comfortRating>COMFORTABLE_MIXED</comfortRating>
  <startingLocation>Valletta, Malta</startingLocation>
  <prices>
    <price currency="USD">6990</price>
    <priceDetails><![CDATA[All prices are per person in U.S. dollars. ]]></priceDetails>
  </prices>
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  <itinerary>
    <![CDATA[• = cruise day

1. Arrive Malta
Tour begins: 6:30 PM, Hotel Phoenicia Malta. A transfer is included from Malta International Airport to Hotel Phoenicia Malta. Your landmark hotel boasts an excellent location and gracious service. Join us this evening for a welcome cocktail reception and dinner. Meals D

• 2. Explore Malta / Embark Le Ponant
A guided tour of Malta includes the medieval walled city of Mdina and a drive around St. Julian’s Bay, where the oft-pictured colorful Maltese boats are sheltered. Return to Valletta for a walking tour, and visit the elaborate Co-Cathedral of St. John. Arrive at the Grand Harbour to board the yacht Le Ponant and cruise to Sicily. Meals BLD

• 3. Savor the Day at Siracusa, Sicily
Le Ponant docks at Ortigia Island for a visit to Siracusa, an important stronghold of ancient Greece. Visit Neapolis Parco Archeologico and its masterpiece, Teatro Greco, a 15,000-seat theatre hewn out of rock. Explore Latomia del Paradiso, featuring the Ear of Dionysius. Spend the afternoon at leisure, perhaps seeing the 6th century Temple of Apollo or the architecturally unique Duomo. Meals BLD

• 4. Explore Historic Taormina, Sicily
The views of Mt. Etna astound as Le Ponant approaches the terraced town of Taormina, built on a cliff overlooking the Ionian Sea. Ride a tender to shore for a guided visit to town and the Teatro Greco, built in 3 BC by the Greeks and remodeled by the Romans, followed by a stroll along the Corso Umberto through Old Town. Meals BLD

• 5. Cruise to Palermo, Sicily
Spend the morning at sea before arriving in Palermo, the capital of Sicily. Set in a natural amphitheatre, Palermo was once Europe’s grandest city. See the Cathedral, Porto Nuovo, the Palazzo dei Normani and Fontana Pretoria. Enjoy traditional entertainment tonight. Meals BLD

• 6. Antiquities and Artifacts of Sicily
From Castellammare, drive to Segesta to see its never- completed Doric temple, which was started in 426 BC; in addition to its well-preserved columns, it boasts some of the most magnificent views in Sicily. Continue on to the ancient walled town of Erice, suspended above the sea, and ride a cable car to nearby Trapani. Meals BLD

• 7. Lipari / View the Island of Stromboli
The largest of the Aeolian Islands, Lipari sits on red volcanic rock and looks like “a wall of bronze,” according to the Greek poet Homer. Archaeological remains found here have yielded clues to civilizations which date to 1700 BC, including the Neolithic stones that sit alongside ancient tombstones, and ruins of Greek walls and Roman villas. The Spaniards found their way here in the 16th century, building the castello (castle) and the 17th-century cathedral that is perched above the harbor; see them on a sightseeing excursion. Back aboard ship experience a different view of these volcanic islands when you sail by the island of Stromboli tonight, home to one of the world’s few constantly active volcanoes – it has continuously erupted for 2,000 years. The view is unforgettable! Meals BLD

• 8. Travel the Incomparable Amalfi Coast
Venture ashore in Amalfi for a guided walk and a drive along the Amalfi Coast to cliff-top Ravello. Visit the Alhambra-inspired Villa Rufolo for a lunch of seasonal specialties and return to the ship for your last night at sea and the Captain’s farewell dinner. Meals BLD

9. Disembark Ship / Herculaneum / Rome
Disembark ship and journey to the ruins of Herculaneum en route to Rome. Like Pompeii, it was buried by the eruption of Mt. Vesuvius, but is better preserved. Your two-night stay in Rome begins with an exclusive after-hours visit to the Vatican Museums and the Sistine Chapel. Meals BL

10. Rome, Capital of the Ancient World
Tauck’s sightseeing tour with a local guide will give you a great overview of Rome’s landmark sights, with an insider’s perspective. See the Colosseum, St. Peter’s Basilica and the Roman Forum. You’ll have free time to explore on your own  before joining us for our farewell dinner tonight. Meals BD

11. Journey Home
Tour ends: Rome, Italy. A transfer from Hotel Majestic Roma to Rome’s Leonardo da Vinci Airport in Fiumicino is included. Allow 2 1/2 hours for flight check-in. Meals B

]]>
  </itinerary>
  <itineraryDetails>
    <itineraryDay day="1">
  <title>Arrive Malta</title>
  <description>Tour begins: 6:30 PM, Hotel Phoenicia Malta.  A transfer is included from Malta International Airport to Hotel Phoenicia Malta.  Your landmark hotel boasts an excellent location and gracious service.  Join us this evening for a welcome cocktail reception and dinner.  Meals D</description>
  <overnight>Hotel Phoenicia Malta, Valletta, Malta</overnight>
  <meals>Dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="2">
  <title>Explore Malta / Embark Le Ponant</title>
  <description>A guided tour of Malta includes the medieval walled city of Mdina and a drive around St.  Julian&apos;s Bay, where the oft&amp;#45;pictured colorful Maltese boats are sheltered.  Return to Valletta for a walking tour, and visit the elaborate Co&amp;#45;Cathedral of St.  John.  Arrive at the Grand Harbour to board the yacht Le Ponant and cruise to Sicily.  Meals BLD</description>
  <overnight>Cruising aboard Le Ponant</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="3">
  <title>Savor the Day at Siracusa, Sicily</title>
  <description>Le Ponant docks at Ortigia Island for a visit to Siracusa, an important stronghold of ancient Greece.  Visit Neapolis Parco Archeologico and its masterpiece, Teatro Greco, a 15,000&amp;#45;seat theatre hewn out of rock.  Explore Latomia del Paradiso, featuring the Ear of Dionysius.  Spend the afternoon at leisure, perhaps seeing the 6th century Temple of Apollo or the architecturally unique Duomo.  Meals BLD</description>
  <overnight>Cruising aboard Le Ponant</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="4">
  <title>Explore Historic Taormina, Sicily</title>
  <description>The views of Mt.  Etna astound as Le Ponant approaches the terraced town of Taormina, built on a cliff overlooking the Ionian Sea.  Ride a tender to shore for a guided visit to town and the Teatro Greco, built in 3 BC by the Greeks and remodeled by the Romans, followed by a stroll along the Corso Umberto through Old Town.  Meals BLD</description>
  <overnight>Cruising aboard Le Ponant</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="5">
  <title>Cruise to Palermo, Sicily</title>
  <description>Spend the morning at sea before arriving in Palermo, the capital of Sicily.  Set in a natural amphitheatre, Palermo was once Europe&apos;s grandest city.  See the Cathedral, Porto Nuovo, the Palazzo dei Normani and Fontana Pretoria.  Enjoy traditional entertainment tonight.  Meals BLD</description>
  <overnight>Cruising aboard Le Ponant</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="6">
  <title>Antiquities and Artifacts of Sicily</title>
  <description>From Castellammare, drive to Segesta to see its never&amp;#45; completed Doric temple, which was started in 426 BC; in addition to its well&amp;#45;preserved columns, it boasts some of the most magnificent views in Sicily.  Continue on to the ancient walled town of Erice, suspended above the sea, and ride a cable car to nearby Trapani.  Meals BLD</description>
  <overnight>Cruising aboard Le Ponant</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="7">
  <title>Lipari / View the Island of Stromboli</title>
  <description>The largest of the Aeolian Islands, Lipari sits on red volcanic rock and looks like “a wall of bronze,” according to the Greek poet Homer.  Archaeological remains found here have yielded clues to civilizations which date to 1700 BC, including the Neolithic stones that sit alongside ancient tombstones, and ruins of Greek walls and Roman villas.  The Spaniards found their way here in the 16th century, building the castello (castle) and the 17th&amp;#45;century cathedral that is perched above the harbor; see them on a sightseeing excursion.  Back aboard ship experience a different view of these volcanic islands when you sail by the island of Stromboli tonight, home to one of the world&apos;s few constantly active volcanoes &amp;#45; it has continuously erupted for 2,000 years.  The view is unforgettable! Meals BLD</description>
  <overnight>Cruising aboard Le Ponant</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="8">
  <title>Travel the Incomparable Amalfi Coast</title>
  <description>Venture ashore in Amalfi for a guided walk and a drive along the Amalfi Coast to cliff&amp;#45;top Ravello.  Visit the Alhambra&amp;#45;inspired Villa Rufolo for a lunch of seasonal specialties and return to the ship for your last night at sea and the Captain&apos;s farewell dinner.  Meals BLD</description>
  <overnight>Cruising aboard Le Ponant</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="9">
  <title>Disembark Ship / Herculaneum / Rome</title>
  <description>Disembark ship and journey to the ruins of Herculaneum en route to Rome.  Like Pompeii, it was buried by the eruption of Mt.  Vesuvius, but is better preserved.  Your two&amp;#45;night stay in Rome begins with an exclusive after&amp;#45;hours visit to the Vatican Museums and the Sistine Chapel.  Meals BL</description>
  <overnight>Hotel Majestic Roma, Rome, Italy</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="10">
  <title>Rome, Capital of the Ancient World</title>
  <description>Tauck&apos;s sightseeing tour with a local guide will give you a great overview of Rome&apos;s landmark sights, with an insider&apos;s perspective.  See the Colosseum, St.  Peter&apos;s Basilica and the Roman Forum.  You&apos;ll have free time to explore on your own before joining us for our farewell dinner tonight.  Meals BD</description>
  <overnight>Hotel Majestic Roma, Rome, Italy</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="11">
  <title>Journey Home</title>
  <description>Tour ends: Rome, Italy. A transfer from Hotel Majestic Roma to Rome’s Leonardo da Vinci Airport in Fiumicino is included. Allow 2 1/2 hours for flight check-in.</description>
  <overnight></overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast</meals>
</itineraryDay>
  </itineraryDetails>
  <highlights>
		
7-Night Cruise on Le Ponant ~ Malta ~ Taormina ~ Siracusa ~ Lipari ~ Ravello
</highlights>
  <tauckValues>
    <value order="1">All gratuities to Tauck Director, ship staff and local guides</value><value order="2">Private Tauck Shore Excursions  $960 Value!</value><value order="3">Exclusive after-hours visit to the Vatican Museums &amp; the Sistine Chapel  without crowds  during a two-night stay in Rome at the Hotel Majestic Roma, located on the famous Via Veneto</value><value order="4">Special Tauck Experiences include traditional Sicilian entertainment, a night sail by the volcanic island of Stromboli and a visit to the well-preserved ruins of Herculaneum</value><value order="5">Cocktail hour, all-day soft drinks, wine with dinner aboard ship</value><value order="6">Most meals (10 breakfasts, 8 lunches, 9 dinners)</value><value order="7">Service charges, applicable fuel surcharges, taxes, porterage and airport transfers</value>
  </tauckValues>  
  <departureDates>
    <date>
    <day>18</day>
    <month>8</month>
    <year>2010</year>
    <singlesPrice>9690</singlesPrice>
    <doublesPrice>6990</doublesPrice>
    <triplesPrice>6607</triplesPrice>
    <quadsPrice>0</quadsPrice>
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  <categoryCode>SIN20101</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>1</occupancy>
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  <suppliment>0</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>9690</totalPrice>
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  <categoryCode>SIN20101</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>2</occupancy>
  <description>Cat. A - 2 twins or 1 double</description>
  <suppliment>0</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>6990</totalPrice>
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  <categoryCode>SIN20102</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>1</occupancy>
  <description>Cat. A - 1 fixed double or triple</description>
  <suppliment>0</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>9690</totalPrice>
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<cabin>
  <categoryCode>SIN20102</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>2</occupancy>
  <description>Cat. A - 1 fixed double or triple</description>
  <suppliment>0</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>6990</totalPrice>
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  <categoryCode>SIN20102</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>3</occupancy>
  <description>Cat. A - 1 fixed double or triple</description>
  <suppliment>0</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>6607</totalPrice>
</cabin>
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  <categoryCode>SIN20103</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>1</occupancy>
  <description>Cat. B - 1 fixed double</description>
  <suppliment>230</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>9920</totalPrice>
</cabin>
<cabin>
  <categoryCode>SIN20103</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>2</occupancy>
  <description>Cat. B - 1 fixed double</description>
  <suppliment>230</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>7220</totalPrice>
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</tour><tour>
  <sourceId>SIS2010</sourceId>
  <title>Sicily, the Amalfi Coast &amp; Rome</title>
  <summary>
    <![CDATA[One of Tauck&apos;s popular Italy cruises aboard the yacht Le Ponant is complemented by a land stay in Rome featuring a Tauck Exclusive – an after-hours visit to the Vatican Museums! See the historic sights of Sicily, the Amalfi Coast, Naples, Malta, Rome and the remote Aeolian Isles on this 11-day journey.
]]>
  </summary>
  <description>
    <![CDATA[Sailing aboard the three-masted yacht Le Ponant, one of Tauck&apos;s popular southern Italy cruises features a night on Malta, two nights in Rome – with a Tauck Exclusive, after-hours visit to the Vatican Museums –
and calls on Sicily, the Amalfi Coast, and remote Aeolian Isles.
Explore Segesta&apos;s unfinished temple...
Valletta and Lipari... and the breathtaking Amalfi Coast. Enjoy
traditional Sicilian entertainment, a night sail past Stromboli and a
visit to Herculaneum&apos;s ruins.
]]>
  </description>
  <link>http://cruise-travel.tauck.com/tours/europe-tours/italy-tours/italy-cruises-sis-2010</link>
  <durationDays>11</durationDays>
  <durationDetails>11 days and 10 nights.</durationDetails>
  <tripType>ESCORTED_TOUR</tripType>
  <brand>TauckAtSea</brand>
  <subbrand>Tauck at Sea</subbrand>
  <gradeRating>ALL_AGES</gradeRating>
  <comfortRating>COMFORTABLE_MIXED</comfortRating>
  <startingLocation>Rome, Italy</startingLocation>
  <prices>
    <price currency="USD">6990</price>
    <priceDetails><![CDATA[All prices are per person in U.S. dollars. ]]></priceDetails>
  </prices>
  <images>
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    <image>http://tools.tauck.com/Files/ItineraryImages/altImages/SIS2010_alt1.jpg</image>
    <image>http://tools.tauck.com/Files/ItineraryImages/altImages/SIS2010_alt2.jpg</image>
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  <itinerary>
    <![CDATA[• = cruise day

1. Arrive Rome / After-Hours Vatican Visit
Tour begins: 5:30 PM, Hotel Majestic Roma. A transfer is included from Rome’s Leonardo da Vinci Airport in Fiumicino to Hotel Majestic Roma on the fashionable Via Veneto. Your journey begins with a Tauck Exclusive: a guided after-hours tour of the Vatican Museums and the Sistine Chapel – without the usual crowds (day of visit may vary).

2. Rome, Capital of the Ancient World
Our sightseeing tour with a local guide offers a great overview of Rome’s landmark sights, including the Roman Forum and a visit to the Colosseum; the rest of the day is free. Join us for a welcome cocktail reception and dinner tonight. Meals BD

• 3. Herculaneum / Embark Le Ponant
While Pompeii is the most famous of the cities destroyed by an eruption of Mt. Vesuvius in 79 AD, the ruins of upscale Herculaneum, buried that same day, are better preserved. Tour them before traveling to Naples for city sightseeing and embarkation aboard Le Ponant. Meals BLD

• 4. The Incomparable Amalfi Coast
The whitewashed villas and astounding sea views along the Amalfi Coast are the stuff of picture books. Venture ashore in Amalfi on the Bay of Salerno for a guided walk through town and a visit to its cathedral. Take a winding drive past villa- and vine-draped hills to cliff-top Ravello; explore the Alhambra-inspired Villa Rufolo – its garden-filled setting is the picture-perfect backdrop for lunch featuring local seasonal specialties! After free time in Ravello, return to Le Ponant and set sail for the Aeolian Islands. Meals BLD

• 5. Enjoy the Pleasures of Lipari
Largest of the Aeolian Islands, Lipari sits on red volcanic rock; archaeological remains found here include Neolithic stones, Greek walls and Roman villas. The Spaniards built the castello and cathedral above the harbor; see them today. Tonight, sail by the constantly active volcanic island of Stromboli – its fiery nighttime show is a truly unforgettable sight! Meals BLD

• 6. Antiquities and Artifacts of Sicily
Le Ponant arrives in Castellammare, Sicily. A shore excursion visits the archaeological site of Segesta, with its never-completed Greek temple, and the city of Erice. Rejoin the ship and sail to Palermo, the ancient capital of Sicily. Meals BLD

• 7. Discover Palermo
Palermo’s sights include the Cathedral, Porto Nuovo, Palazzo dei Normani and the Fontana Pretoria. Local entertainment aboard Le Ponant showcases Sicilian traditions before sailing for Taormina on Sicily’s northeastern coast. Meals BLD

• 8. Explore Historic Taormina
Views of Mt. Etna astound as you approach Taormina, clinging to the cliffs high above the sea. A delight to visit, Taormina boasts beautiful beaches and fascinating relics of centuries past. Enjoy a guided visit to the 3rd-century Teatro Greco, begun by the Greeks and completed by the Romans. Visit the old town and take a stroll along Corso Umberto, Taormina’s beautiful main walkway lined with sidewalk restaurants and boutiques. Return to the ship and have dinner at sea, bound for Siracusa. Meals BLD

• 9. Savor the Day at Siracusa, Sicily
Le Ponant docks at Ortigia off Siracusa today. Once the most important and powerful Greek city, Siracusa fell to the Romans in 211 BC. Take a walking tour of Ortigia; visit the Neapolis Parco Archeologico and Teatro Greco, where the great Greek playwrights staged their works; explore Latomia del Paradiso. After free time on Ortigia, return to Le Ponant for the Captain’s reception and dinner onboard. Meals BLD

10. Disembark Le Ponant / Malta
Disembark Le Ponant in Valletta, the lovely Maltese capital that was founded in the 16th century by the Knights of St. John. Take a guided tour of Malta that includes the medieval walled city of Mdina and a drive around St. Julian’s Bay. Return to Valletta for a walking tour and a visit to the elaborate Co-Cathedral of St. John. Please join us for a farewell reception followed by dinner tonight. Meals BLD

11. Journey Home
Tour ends: Valletta, Malta. Fly home anytime. A transfer from Hotel Phoenicia Malta to Malta International Airport is included. You should allow 21/2 hours for flight check-in at the airport. If you wish to spend more time on Malta, inquire at the time of booking about additional nights at the hotel. Meals B

]]>
  </itinerary>
  <itineraryDetails>
    <itineraryDay day="1">
  <title>Arrive Rome / After&amp;#45;Hours Vatican Visit</title>
  <description>Tour begins: 5:30 PM, Hotel Majestic Roma.  A transfer is included from Rome&apos;s Leonardo da Vinci Airport in Fiumicino to Hotel Majestic Roma on the fashionable Via Veneto.  Your journey begins with a Tauck Exclusive: a guided after&amp;#45;hours tour of the Vatican Museums and the Sistine Chapel &amp;#45; without the usual crowds (day of visit may vary).</description>
  <overnight>Hotel Majestic Roma, Rome, Italy</overnight>
  <meals></meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="2">
  <title>Rome, Capital of the Ancient World</title>
  <description>Our sightseeing tour with a local guide offers a great overview of Rome&apos;s landmark sights, including the Roman Forum and a visit to the Colosseum; the rest of the day is free.  Join us for a welcome cocktail reception and dinner tonight.  Meals BD</description>
  <overnight>Hotel Majestic Roma, Rome, Italy</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="3">
  <title>Herculaneum / Embark Le Ponant</title>
  <description>While Pompeii is the most famous of the cities destroyed by an eruption of Mt.  Vesuvius in 79 AD, the ruins of upscale Herculaneum, buried that same day, are better preserved.  Tour them before traveling to Naples for city sightseeing and embarkation aboard Le Ponant.  Meals BLD</description>
  <overnight>Cruising aboard Le Ponant</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="4">
  <title>The Incomparable Amalfi Coast</title>
  <description>The whitewashed villas and astounding sea views along the Amalfi Coast are the stuff of picture books.  Venture ashore in Amalfi on the Bay of Salerno for a guided walk through town and a visit to its cathedral.  Take a winding drive past villa&amp;#45; and vine&amp;#45;draped hills to cliff&amp;#45;top Ravello; explore the Alhambra&amp;#45;inspired Villa Rufolo &amp;#45; its garden&amp;#45;filled setting is the picture&amp;#45;perfect backdrop for lunch featuring local seasonal specialties! After free time in Ravello, return to Le Ponant and set sail for the Aeolian Islands.  Meals BLD</description>
  <overnight>Cruising aboard Le Ponant</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="5">
  <title>Enjoy the Pleasures of Lipari</title>
  <description>Largest of the Aeolian Islands, Lipari sits on red volcanic rock; archaeological remains found here include Neolithic stones, Greek walls and Roman villas.  The Spaniards built the castello and cathedral above the harbor; see them today.  Tonight, sail by the constantly active volcanic island of Stromboli &amp;#45; its fiery nighttime show is a truly unforgettable sight! Meals BLD</description>
  <overnight>Cruising aboard Le Ponant</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="6">
  <title>Antiquities and Artifacts of Sicily</title>
  <description>Le Ponant arrives in Castellammare, Sicily.  A shore excursion visits the archaeological site of Segesta, with its never&amp;#45;completed Greek temple, and the city of Erice.  Rejoin the ship and sail to Palermo, the ancient capital of Sicily.  Meals BLD</description>
  <overnight>Cruising aboard Le Ponant</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="7">
  <title>Discover Palermo</title>
  <description>Palermo&apos;s sights include the Cathedral, Porto Nuovo, Palazzo dei Normani and the Fontana Pretoria.  Local entertainment aboard Le Ponant showcases Sicilian traditions before sailing for Taormina on Sicily&apos;s northeastern coast.  Meals BLD</description>
  <overnight>Cruising aboard Le Ponant</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="8">
  <title>Explore Historic Taormina</title>
  <description>Views of Mt.  Etna astound as you approach Taormina, clinging to the cliffs high above the sea.  A delight to visit, Taormina boasts beautiful beaches and fascinating relics of centuries past.  Enjoy a guided visit to the 3rd&amp;#45;century Teatro Greco, begun by the Greeks and completed by the Romans.  Visit the old town and take a stroll along Corso Umberto, Taormina&apos;s beautiful main walkway lined with sidewalk restaurants and boutiques.  Return to the ship and have dinner at sea, bound for Siracusa.  Meals BLD</description>
  <overnight>Cruising aboard Le Ponant</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="9">
  <title>Savor the Day at Siracusa, Sicily</title>
  <description>Le Ponant docks at Ortigia off Siracusa today.  Once the most important and powerful Greek city, Siracusa fell to the Romans in 211 BC.  Take a walking tour of Ortigia; visit the Neapolis Parco Archeologico and Teatro Greco, where the great Greek playwrights staged their works; explore Latomia del Paradiso.  After free time on Ortigia, return to Le Ponant for the Captain&apos;s reception and dinner onboard.  Meals BLD</description>
  <overnight>Cruising aboard Le Ponant</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="10">
  <title>Disembark Le Ponant / Malta</title>
  <description>Disembark Le Ponant in Valletta, the lovely Maltese capital that was founded in the 16th century by the Knights of St.  John.  Take a guided tour of Malta that includes the medieval walled city of Mdina and a drive around St.  Julian&apos;s Bay.  Return to Valletta for a walking tour and a visit to the elaborate Co&amp;#45;Cathedral of St.  John.  Please join us for a farewell reception followed by dinner tonight.  Meals BLD</description>
  <overnight>Hotel Phoenicia Malta, Valletta, Malta</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="11">
  <title>Journey Home</title>
  <description>Tour ends: Valletta, Malta. Fly home anytime. A transfer from Hotel Phoenicia Malta to Malta International Airport is included. You should allow 21/2 hours for flight check-in at the airport. If you wish to spend more time on Malta, inquire at the time of booking about additional nights at the hotel.</description>
  <overnight></overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast</meals>
</itineraryDay>
  </itineraryDetails>
  <highlights>
		
7-Night Cruise on Le Ponant ~ Malta ~ Taormina ~ Siracusa ~ Lipari ~ Ravello
</highlights>
  <tauckValues>
    <value order="1">All gratuities to Tauck Director, ship staff and local guides</value><value order="2">Private Tauck Shore Excursions  $960 Value!</value><value order="3">Exclusive after-hours visit to the Vatican Museums &amp; the Sistine Chapel  without crowds  during a two-night stay in Rome at the Hotel Majestic Roma, located on the famous Via Veneto</value><value order="4">Special Tauck Experiences include traditional Sicilian entertainment, a night sail by the volcanic island of Stromboli and a visit to the well-preserved ruins of Herculaneum</value><value order="5">Cocktail hour, all-day soft drinks, wine with dinner aboard ship</value><value order="6">Most meals (10 breakfasts, 8 lunches, 9 dinners)</value><value order="7">Service charges, applicable fuel surcharges, taxes, porterage and airport transfers</value>
  </tauckValues>  
  <departureDates>
    <date>
    <day>24</day>
    <month>8</month>
    <year>2010</year>
    <singlesPrice>9990</singlesPrice>
    <doublesPrice>7290</doublesPrice>
    <triplesPrice>6907</triplesPrice>
    <quadsPrice>0</quadsPrice>
    <cabins>
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  <categoryCode>SIS20101</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>1</occupancy>
  <description>Cat. A - 2 twins or 1 double</description>
  <suppliment>0</suppliment>
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  <description>Cat. A - 2 twins or 1 double</description>
  <suppliment>0</suppliment>
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  <categoryCode>SIS20102</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>1</occupancy>
  <description>Cat. A - 1 fixed double or triple</description>
  <suppliment>0</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>9990</totalPrice>
</cabin>
<cabin>
  <categoryCode>SIS20102</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>2</occupancy>
  <description>Cat. A - 1 fixed double or triple</description>
  <suppliment>0</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>7290</totalPrice>
</cabin>
<cabin>
  <categoryCode>SIS20102</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>3</occupancy>
  <description>Cat. A - 1 fixed double or triple</description>
  <suppliment>0</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>6907</totalPrice>
</cabin>
<cabin>
  <categoryCode>SIS20103</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>1</occupancy>
  <description>Cat. B - 1 fixed double</description>
  <suppliment>230</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>10220</totalPrice>
</cabin>
<cabin>
  <categoryCode>SIS20103</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>2</occupancy>
  <description>Cat. B - 1 fixed double</description>
  <suppliment>230</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>7520</totalPrice>
</cabin></cabins>
  </date>
  <date>
    <day>1</day>
    <month>10</month>
    <year>2010</year>
    <singlesPrice>10290</singlesPrice>
    <doublesPrice>7590</doublesPrice>
    <triplesPrice>7207</triplesPrice>
    <quadsPrice>0</quadsPrice>
    <cabins>
<cabin>
  <categoryCode>SIS20101</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>1</occupancy>
  <description>Cat. A - 2 twins or 1 double</description>
  <suppliment>0</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>10290</totalPrice>
</cabin>
<cabin>
  <categoryCode>SIS20101</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>2</occupancy>
  <description>Cat. A - 2 twins or 1 double</description>
  <suppliment>0</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>7590</totalPrice>
</cabin>
<cabin>
  <categoryCode>SIS20102</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>1</occupancy>
  <description>Cat. A - 1 fixed double or triple</description>
  <suppliment>0</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>10290</totalPrice>
</cabin>
<cabin>
  <categoryCode>SIS20102</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>2</occupancy>
  <description>Cat. A - 1 fixed double or triple</description>
  <suppliment>0</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>7590</totalPrice>
</cabin>
<cabin>
  <categoryCode>SIS20102</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>3</occupancy>
  <description>Cat. A - 1 fixed double or triple</description>
  <suppliment>0</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>7207</totalPrice>
</cabin>
<cabin>
  <categoryCode>SIS20103</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>1</occupancy>
  <description>Cat. B - 1 fixed double</description>
  <suppliment>230</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>10520</totalPrice>
</cabin>
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  <occupancy>2</occupancy>
  <description>Cat. B - 1 fixed double</description>
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</tour><tour>
  <sourceId>SLN2010</sourceId>
  <title>Yellowstone &amp; Grand Teton National Parks</title>
  <summary>
    <![CDATA[Geothermal wonders, the magnificent Grand Tetons, Mount Rushmore and cowboy country take center stage on one of the most varied Wyoming and Yellowstone tours in the great American West.
]]>
  </summary>
  <description>
    <![CDATA[Stay right in the heart of the world’s first national park on this most exciting of Yellowstone tours, which also takes in Old West history in Cody, the colossal Black Hills masterpieces of Mount Rushmore and the Crazy Horse Memorial, and the peaks and glaciers of the Grand Tetons! See Old Faithful shooting hundreds of feet in the air, just outside your hotel... raft along the Snake River... dig into a pioneer lunch at a national trail museum in Idaho... enjoy a classic western ranch experience... attend a Wild West rodeo or a cowboy music revue... and have an exclusive opportunity to take part in a volunteer project with park experts in Grand Teton National Park!
]]>
  </description>
  <link>http://www.tauck.com/tours/usa-tours/western-usa-travel/yellowstone-tours-sln-2010</link>
  <durationDays>10</durationDays>
  <durationDetails>10 days and 9 nights.</durationDetails>
  <tripType>ESCORTED_TOUR</tripType>
  <brand>TWD</brand>
  <subbrand>USA and Canada</subbrand>
  <gradeRating>ALL_AGES</gradeRating>
  <comfortRating>COMFORTABLE_MIXED</comfortRating>
  <startingLocation>Salt Lake City, Utah</startingLocation>
  <prices>
    <price currency="USD">2990</price>
    <priceDetails><![CDATA[All prices are per person in U.S. dollars. ]]></priceDetails>
  </prices>
  <images>
    <image isMain="true">http://tools.tauck.com/Files/ItineraryImages/ListImages/img_SLN2010_list.jpg</image>
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    <image>http://tools.tauck.com/Files/ItineraryImages/altImages/SLN2010_alt2.jpg</image>
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  </images>
  <itinerary>
    <![CDATA[1. Arrive Salt Lake City 
Tour begins: 6:00 PM, Hilton Salt Lake City Center. A transfer is included from Salt Lake City International Airport to Hilton Salt Lake City Center. Please join us tonight for a welcome reception and dinner. Meals D

2. Discover Salt Lake City
Sightseeing includes the interesting downtown architecture, residential areas and the This is the Place Monument – it was here that Brigham Young envisioned the building of this Mormon city. Travel to one of ten venues of the 2002 Winter Olympics; the rest of the afternoon is free to explore Salt Lake City on your own, perhaps visiting Temple Square, the Tabernacle, Beehive House or the Family History Library. Learn all about the ecology of the Great Salt Lake Basin during a fascinating lecture this evening. Meals B

3. Utah / Idaho / Wyoming
Travel north along the edge of the Great Salt Lake into Idaho, and enjoy a pioneer lunch on a visit to the National Oregon / California Trail Center, where an interactive presentation simulates an actual wagon train experience of the 1850s. Continue on into Wyoming, the soul of the rugged West, boasting spectacular mountains, silver streams, oil wells, grasslands, cowboys and warm, hospitable people. Enjoy a brief visit in the town of Jackson before arriving in Grand Teton National Park for two nights at the Jackson Lake Lodge. The views are a feast for your soul! Meals BLD

4. Snake River / Grand Tetons
Take a scenic ten-mile float trip on the Snake River* this morning as it meanders through stunning alpine scenery; be on the lookout for moose, elk, deer, beaver and many species of birds, including the bald eagle, who all make their homes in this natural habitat. Spend the remainder of the day exploring on your own or join us for a special volunteer service project with park experts, made possible by Tauck’s long-standing relationship with the national parks – sure to be a highlight of your journey. Tauck has been giving back to the parks for decades in an effort to protect and preserve them for the continued enjoyment of future generations. Meals B

5. Yellowstone National Park
Depart Grand Teton National Park this morning; view sparkling Jenny Lake and arrive midday in Yellowstone National Park, established in 1872 as the United States’ first national park and the first of its kind in the world. Your accommodations are ideally located at the Old Faithful Inn, just steps from the park’s most famous feature, Old Faithful Geyser. Approximately every 90 minutes, the geyser lives up to its name by shooting a plume of steam skyward. Explore the Upper Geyser Basin and learn more about Old Faithful on a guided excursion this afternoon. Tonight’s à la carte dinner is at your leisure at your hotel. Meals BLD

6. Geysers and Canyons
With 10,000 hot springs, thundering waterfalls, two-thirds of all geysers in the world and endless forests, Yellowstone inspires awe. Follow the Firehole River to the Fountain Paint Pot, one of many bubbling, colorful mud pots. View the spectacular Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone, carved by the churning waters of the Yellowstone River. Spend tonight along the tranquil shores of Yellowstone Lake where you’ll dine à la carte at your historic hotel. Meals BD

7. Explore Historic Cody
A journey along winding mountain roads leads from Yellowstone National Park to the open oil and cattle lands found in western Wyoming’s cowboy country. Founded by frontiersman Buffalo Bill Cody in 1896, the town of Cody changed little during the 20th century. Explore the Buffalo Bill Historical Center, which includes the Whitney Gallery of Western Art, the Draper Museum of Natural History and the Plains Indian Museum. Depending on the time of year, you will attend the Cody Wild West Rodeo (seasonal) or the Dan Miller Cowboy Music Revue tonight – both of which are a great look at “old west” traditions! Meals BD

8. Bighorn Mountains
Experience the scenic splendors of the Bighorn Mountains as you traverse canyons and endless mountain vistas, where cowboys work amidst blankets of grassland and seasonal flowers. Enjoy an authentic western ranch experience, including a horseback ride*, during an overnight stay at The Ranch at Ucross, where horseshoes, a trout pond and a heated swimming pool invite relaxation. Meals BLD

9. Mount Rushmore / Crazy Horse
Travel into the Black Hills for lunch and a visit to the Crazy Horse Memorial; begun in 1948, upon completion it will be the largest stone carving in the world. Continue on to Mount Rushmore National Memorial. See carved in rock the faces of former presidents George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt, and Abraham Lincoln, and visit the Borglum Historical Center. Journey to Rapid City for an overnight stay and a farewell dinner. Meals BLD

10. Journey Home
Tour ends: Rapid City, South Dakota. Fly home anytime; a transfer is included from Radisson Hotel Rapid City to Rapid City Regional Airport. Allow a minimum of two hours for flight check-in. Meals B

*For activities marked with an asterisk (*) in day-by-day descriptions, participation is at your own risk and a signed liability waiver will be required.

]]>
  </itinerary>
  <itineraryDetails>
    <itineraryDay day="1">
  <title>Arrive Salt Lake City </title>
  <description>Tour begins: 6:00 PM, Hilton Salt Lake City Center.  A transfer is included from Salt Lake City International Airport to Hilton Salt Lake City Center.  Please join us tonight for a welcome reception and dinner.  Meals D</description>
  <overnight>Hilton Salt Lake City Center, Salt Lake City, UT</overnight>
  <meals>Dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="2">
  <title>Discover Salt Lake City</title>
  <description>Sightseeing includes the interesting downtown architecture, residential areas and the This is the Place Monument &amp;#45; it was here that Brigham Young envisioned the building of this Mormon city.  Travel to one of ten venues of the 2002 Winter Olympics; the rest of the afternoon is free to explore Salt Lake City on your own, perhaps visiting Temple Square, the Tabernacle, Beehive House or the Family History Library.  Learn all about the ecology of the Great Salt Lake Basin during a fascinating lecture this evening.  Meals B</description>
  <overnight>Hilton Salt Lake City Center, Salt Lake City, UT</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="3">
  <title>Utah / Idaho / Wyoming</title>
  <description>Travel north along the edge of the Great Salt Lake into Idaho, and enjoy a pioneer lunch on a visit to the National Oregon / California Trail Center, where an interactive presentation simulates an actual wagon train experience of the 1850s.  Continue on into Wyoming, the soul of the rugged West, boasting spectacular mountains, silver streams, oil wells, grasslands, cowboys and warm, hospitable people.  Enjoy a brief visit in the town of Jackson before arriving in Grand Teton National Park for two nights at the Jackson Lake Lodge.  The views are a feast for your soul! Meals BLD</description>
  <overnight>Jackson Lake Lodge, Grand Teton National Park, WY</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="4">
  <title>Snake River / Grand Tetons</title>
  <description>Take a scenic ten&amp;#45;mile float trip on the Snake River* this morning as it meanders through stunning alpine scenery; be on the lookout for moose, elk, deer, beaver and many species of birds, including the bald eagle, who all make their homes in this natural habitat.  Spend the remainder of the day exploring on your own or join us for a special volunteer service project with park experts, made possible by Tauck&apos;s long&amp;#45;standing relationship with the national parks &amp;#45; sure to be a highlight of your journey.  Tauck has been giving back to the parks for decades in an effort to protect and preserve them for the continued enjoyment of future generations.  Meals B</description>
  <overnight>Jackson Lake Lodge, Grand Teton National Park, WY</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="5">
  <title>Yellowstone National Park</title>
  <description>Depart Grand Teton National Park this morning; view sparkling Jenny Lake and arrive midday in Yellowstone National Park, established in 1872 as the United States&apos; first national park and the first of its kind in the world.  Your accommodations are ideally located at the Old Faithful Inn, just steps from the park&apos;s most famous feature, Old Faithful Geyser.  Approximately every 90 minutes, the geyser lives up to its name by shooting a plume of steam skyward.  Explore the Upper Geyser Basin and learn more about Old Faithful on a guided excursion this afternoon.  Tonight&apos;s &amp;#224; la carte dinner is at your leisure at your hotel.  Meals BLD</description>
  <overnight>Old Faithful Inn, Yellowstone National Park, WY</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="6">
  <title>Geysers and Canyons</title>
  <description>With 10,000 hot springs, thundering waterfalls, two&amp;#45;thirds of all geysers in the world and endless forests, Yellowstone inspires awe.  Follow the Firehole River to the Fountain Paint Pot, one of many bubbling, colorful mud pots.  View the spectacular Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone, carved by the churning waters of the Yellowstone River.  Spend tonight along the tranquil shores of Yellowstone Lake where you&apos;ll dine &amp;#224; la carte at your historic hotel.  Meals BD</description>
  <overnight>Lake Yellowstone Hotel, Yellowstone National Park, WY</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="7">
  <title>Explore Historic Cody</title>
  <description>A journey along winding mountain roads leads from Yellowstone National Park to the open oil and cattle lands found in western Wyoming&apos;s cowboy country.  Founded by frontiersman Buffalo Bill Cody in 1896, the town of Cody changed little during the 20th century.  Explore the Buffalo Bill Historical Center, which includes the Whitney Gallery of Western Art, the Draper Museum of Natural History and the Plains Indian Museum.  Depending on the time of year, you will attend the Cody Wild West Rodeo (seasonal) or the Dan Miller Cowboy Music Revue tonight &amp;#45; both of which are a great look at “old west” traditions! Meals BD</description>
  <overnight>Holiday Inn Cody at Buffalo Bill Village, Cody, WY</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="8">
  <title>Bighorn Mountains</title>
  <description>Experience the scenic splendors of the Bighorn Mountains as you traverse canyons and endless mountain vistas, where cowboys work amidst blankets of grassland and seasonal flowers.  Enjoy an authentic western ranch experience, including a horseback ride*, during an overnight stay at The Ranch at Ucross, where horseshoes, a trout pond and a heated swimming pool invite relaxation.  Meals BLD</description>
  <overnight>The Ranch at Ucross, WY</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="9">
  <title>Mount Rushmore / Crazy Horse</title>
  <description>Travel into the Black Hills for lunch and a visit to the Crazy Horse Memorial; begun in 1948, upon completion it will be the largest stone carving in the world.  Continue on to Mount Rushmore National Memorial.  See carved in rock the faces of former presidents George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt, and Abraham Lincoln, and visit the Borglum Historical Center.  Journey to Rapid City for an overnight stay and a farewell dinner.  Meals BLD</description>
  <overnight>Radisson Hotel Rapid City, SD</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="10">
  <title>Journey Home</title>
  <description>Tour ends: Rapid City, South Dakota. Fly home anytime; a transfer is included from Radisson Hotel Rapid City to Rapid City Regional Airport. Allow a minimum of two hours for flight check-in.
*For activities marked with an asterisk (*) in day-by-day descriptions, participation is at your own risk and a signed liability waiver will be required.
</description>
  <overnight></overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast</meals>
</itineraryDay>
  </itineraryDetails>
  <highlights>
		
				Utah ~ Idaho ~ Wyoming ~ South Dakota 
		
</highlights>
  <tauckValues>
    <value order="1">A private lecture on the ecology of the Great Salt Lake Basin in Salt Lake City</value><value order="2">An opportunity to join Tauck and park experts on a volunteer service project in Grand Teton National Park, a very special experience for Tauck guests only</value><value order="3">Pioneer lunch at the Trail Museum in Idaho, where displays and an interactive presentation re-enact a glimpse of life on the trail for pioneers of the 1850s</value><value order="4">Rafting adventure along the Snake River, surrounded by the spectacular scenery of the Grand Tetons</value><value order="5">Visits to the Crazy Horse Memorial, Mount Rushmore National Memorial and Borglum Historical Center</value><value order="6">Wild West rodeo or a performance of the Dan Miller Cowboy Music Revue in historic Cody</value><value order="7">Airport transfers upon arrival and departure as noted</value><value order="8">20 meals, service charges, gratuities to local guides, admission fees, taxes and porterage</value>
  </tauckValues>  
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    <month>6</month>
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</departureDates>

</tour><tour>
  <sourceId>SLS2010</sourceId>
  <title>Yellowstone &amp; Grand Teton National Parks</title>
  <summary>
    <![CDATA[Yellowstone’s geothermal wonders, the magnificent Grand Tetons, Mount Rushmore and cowboy country take center stage on this memorable Utah, South Dakota and Wyoming vacation.
]]>
  </summary>
  <description>
    <![CDATA[Stay right in the heart of the world’s first national park on Tauck&apos;s exciting Utah, South Dakota and Wyoming vacation – which takes in Yellowstone&apos;s amazing geothermal features, Old West history in Cody, the colossal Black Hills masterpieces of Mount Rushmore and the Crazy Horse Memorial, and the peaks and glaciers of the Grand Tetons! See Old Faithful shooting hundreds of feet in the air, just outside your hotel... raft along the Snake River... dig into a pioneer lunch at a national trail museum in Idaho... enjoy a classic western ranch experience... attend a Wild West rodeo or a cowboy music revue... and have an exclusive opportunity to take part in a volunteer project with park experts in Grand Teton National Park!
]]>
  </description>
  <link>http://www.tauck.com/tours/usa-tours/western-usa-travel/wyoming-vacation-sls-2010</link>
  <durationDays>10</durationDays>
  <durationDetails>10 days and 9 nights.</durationDetails>
  <tripType>ESCORTED_TOUR</tripType>
  <brand>TWD</brand>
  <subbrand>USA and Canada</subbrand>
  <gradeRating>ALL_AGES</gradeRating>
  <comfortRating>COMFORTABLE_MIXED</comfortRating>
  <startingLocation>Rapid City, South Dakota</startingLocation>
  <prices>
    <price currency="USD">2990</price>
    <priceDetails><![CDATA[All prices are per person in U.S. dollars. ]]></priceDetails>
  </prices>
  <images>
    <image isMain="true">http://tools.tauck.com/Files/ItineraryImages/ListImages/img_SLS2010_list.jpg</image>
    <image>http://tools.tauck.com/Files/ItineraryImages/altImages/SLS2010_alt1.jpg</image>
    <image>http://tools.tauck.com/Files/ItineraryImages/altImages/SLS2010_alt2.jpg</image>
    <image>http://tools.tauck.com/Files/ItineraryImages/altImages/SLS2010_alt3.jpg</image>
    <image isMap="true">http://tools.tauck.com/Files/ItineraryImages/MapImages/map_SLS2010.jpg</image>
  </images>
  <itinerary>
    <![CDATA[1. Arrive Rapid City 
Tour begins: Radisson Rapid City at 6:00 PM. Welcome to Rapid City, gateway to the Black Hills of South Dakota. A transfer is included from the Rapid City Regional Airport to the Radisson Hotel Rapid City. We invite you to join us this evening for a welcome dinner. Meals D

2. Mount Rushmore / Crazy Horse
Visit the Borglum Historical Center this morning, before seeing the faces of presidents Washington, Jefferson, Roosevelt, and Lincoln carved in rock on the steep granite walls of Mount Rushmore National Memorial. Continue on to view the still-in-progress Crazy Horse Memorial; begun in the 1940s, it is one of the largest sculptures in the world. Your travels take you to Wyoming’s Bighorn Mountains for an overnight stay at The Ranch at Ucross. Meals BLD

3. Bighorn Mountains
Spend the morning at leisure at your western ranch and join us for a horseback ride.* Enjoy the scenic splendors of the Bighorn National Forest as we traverse winding mountain roads into the open oil and cattle lands of western Wyoming’s cowboy country, descending through the canyons to Cody. Founded by frontiersman “Buffalo Bill” Cody in 1896, this historic town changed little during the 20th century. Depending on the time of year you are visiting, enjoy a performance at the Cody Rodeo (seasonal) or the Dan Miller Cowboy Music Revue, promising an evening of songs and comedy of the Old West. Meals BLD

4. Cody / Lake Yellowstone
Visit the Buffalo Bill Historical Center, displaying the world’s largest collection of artifacts depicting the culture, history and art of the American West. The center is home to the Whitney Gallery of Western Art, the Draper Museum of Natural History and the Plains Indian Museum. Arrive late afternoon in Yellowstone National Park, established in 1872 as America’s first national park; spend tonight on the shores of Lake Yellowstone in a landmark hotel listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Meals BD

5. Yellowstone National Park
With 10,000 hot springs, thundering waterfalls and two-thirds of the world’s geysers, Yellowstone truly inspires awe. Follow the Firehole River to the Fountain Paint Pot, view the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone, and see Old Faithful Geyser live up to its name – just steps from your accommodations at the Old Faithful Inn. Meals BLD

6. Grand Teton National Park
Depart the wonders of Yellowstone and travel to Grand Teton National Park. The magnificent Grand Tetons boast a complex geologic history, and are home to an abundance of wildlife and approximately 900 varieties of wildflowers. Enjoy a visit to the town of Jackson and continue on to Grand Teton National Park. Spend the next two nights at the Jackson Lake Lodge in the heart of the park. Meals B

7. Snake River / Tetons
Today is free to do as you wish. There are many optional activities available to you at the Lodge, from horseback riding to fishing. If you choose, join us for a scenic ten-mile float trip on the Snake River* as it meanders through mountainscapes alive with wildlife. You’ll also have an opportunity to volunteer on a special service project with park experts, schedule permitting. Meals BD

8. Wyoming / Idaho / Utah
Travel southward through the southeastern corner of Idaho, a land rich in mountains, forests, rivers and lakes. Stop at the National Oregon / California Trail Center, built atop what was once a major stopping point for emigrant wagons on the original old Oregon Trail, for a pioneer lunch. Cross into Utah along the Great Salt Lake to Salt Lake City, surrounded by the Wasatch Mountains. Dinner is on your own tonight. End your evening with a fascinating lecture about the ecology of the Great Salt Lake Basin with a local expert at your hotel. The largest salt water lake in the western hemisphere, the Great Salt Lake is known as America’s “Dead Sea”; its high salinity makes the waters uninhabitable for most wildlife, with the exception of brine shrimp, but abundant birds nest along its shores.       Meals BL

9. Discover Salt Lake City
Sightseeing includes the city’s interesting downtown architecture, residential areas and the This is the Place Monument – it was here that Brigham Young envisioned the building of this Mormon city. Travel to one of ten venues of the 2002 Winter Olympics; the rest of the afternoon is free to explore Salt Lake City on your own, perhaps visiting Temple Square, the Tabernacle, Beehive House or the Family History Library. We invite you to join us tonight for a farewell reception and dinner. Meals BD

10. Journey Home
Tour ends: Salt Lake City, Utah. Fly home anytime; for your convenience, Tauck includes a transfer from Hilton Salt Lake City Center to the airport. Allow a minimum of two hours for flight check-in. Meals B

*For activities marked with an asterisk (*) in day-by-day descriptions, participation is at your own risk and a signed liability waiver will be required.
]]>
  </itinerary>
  <itineraryDetails>
    <itineraryDay day="1">
  <title>Arrive Rapid City </title>
  <description>Tour begins: Radisson Rapid City at 6:00 PM.  Welcome to Rapid City, gateway to the Black Hills of South Dakota.  A transfer is included from the Rapid City Regional Airport to the Radisson Hotel Rapid City.  We invite you to join us this evening for a welcome dinner.  Meals D</description>
  <overnight>Radisson Hotel Rapid City, SD</overnight>
  <meals>Dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="2">
  <title>Mount Rushmore / Crazy Horse</title>
  <description>Visit the Borglum Historical Center this morning, before seeing the faces of presidents Washington, Jefferson, Roosevelt, and Lincoln carved in rock on the steep granite walls of Mount Rushmore National Memorial.  Continue on to view the still&amp;#45;in&amp;#45;progress Crazy Horse Memorial; begun in the 1940s, it is one of the largest sculptures in the world.  Your travels take you to Wyoming&apos;s Bighorn Mountains for an overnight stay at The Ranch at Ucross.  Meals BLD</description>
  <overnight>The Ranch at Ucross, WY</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="3">
  <title>Bighorn Mountains</title>
  <description>Spend the morning at leisure at your western ranch and join us for a horseback ride.* Enjoy the scenic splendors of the Bighorn National Forest as we traverse winding mountain roads into the open oil and cattle lands of western Wyoming&apos;s cowboy country, descending through the canyons to Cody.  Founded by frontiersman “Buffalo Bill” Cody in 1896, this historic town changed little during the 20th century.  Depending on the time of year you are visiting, enjoy a performance at the Cody Rodeo (seasonal) or the Dan Miller Cowboy Music Revue, promising an evening of songs and comedy of the Old West.  Meals BLD</description>
  <overnight>Holiday Inn Cody at Bufallo Bill Village, Cody, WY</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="4">
  <title>Cody / Lake Yellowstone</title>
  <description>Visit the Buffalo Bill Historical Center, displaying the world&apos;s largest collection of artifacts depicting the culture, history and art of the American West.  The center is home to the Whitney Gallery of Western Art, the Draper Museum of Natural History and the Plains Indian Museum.  Arrive late afternoon in Yellowstone National Park, established in 1872 as America&apos;s first national park; spend tonight on the shores of Lake Yellowstone in a landmark hotel listed on the National Register of Historic Places.  Meals BD</description>
  <overnight>Lake Yellowstone Hotel, Yellowstone National Park, WY</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="5">
  <title>Yellowstone National Park</title>
  <description>With 10,000 hot springs, thundering waterfalls and two&amp;#45;thirds of the world&apos;s geysers, Yellowstone truly inspires awe.  Follow the Firehole River to the Fountain Paint Pot, view the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone, and see Old Faithful Geyser live up to its name &amp;#45; just steps from your accommodations at the Old Faithful Inn.  Meals BLD</description>
  <overnight>Old Faithful Inn, Yellowstone National Park, WY</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="6">
  <title>Grand Teton National Park</title>
  <description>Depart the wonders of Yellowstone and travel to Grand Teton National Park.  The magnificent Grand Tetons boast a complex geologic history, and are home to an abundance of wildlife and approximately 900 varieties of wildflowers.  Enjoy a visit to the town of Jackson and continue on to Grand Teton National Park.  Spend the next two nights at the Jackson Lake Lodge in the heart of the park.  Meals B</description>
  <overnight>Jackson Lake Lodge, Grand Teton National Park, WY</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="7">
  <title>Snake River / Tetons</title>
  <description>Today is free to do as you wish.  There are many optional activities available to you at the Lodge, from horseback riding to fishing.  If you choose, join us for a scenic ten&amp;#45;mile float trip on the Snake River* as it meanders through mountainscapes alive with wildlife.  You&apos;ll also have an opportunity to volunteer on a special service project with park experts, schedule permitting.  Meals BD</description>
  <overnight>Jackson Lake Lodge, Grand Teton National Park, WY</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="8">
  <title>Wyoming / Idaho / Utah</title>
  <description>Travel southward through the southeastern corner of Idaho, a land rich in mountains, forests, rivers and lakes.  Stop at the National Oregon / California Trail Center, built atop what was once a major stopping point for emigrant wagons on the original old Oregon Trail, for a pioneer lunch.  Cross into Utah along the Great Salt Lake to Salt Lake City, surrounded by the Wasatch Mountains.  Dinner is on your own tonight.  End your evening with a fascinating lecture about the ecology of the Great Salt Lake Basin with a local expert at your hotel.  The largest salt water lake in the western hemisphere, the Great Salt Lake is known as America&apos;s “Dead Sea”; its high salinity makes the waters uninhabitable for most wildlife, with the exception of brine shrimp, but abundant birds nest along its shores.     Meals BL</description>
  <overnight>Hilton Salt Lake City Center, Salt Lake City, UT</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="9">
  <title>Discover Salt Lake City</title>
  <description>Sightseeing includes the city&apos;s interesting downtown architecture, residential areas and the This is the Place Monument &amp;#45; it was here that Brigham Young envisioned the building of this Mormon city.  Travel to one of ten venues of the 2002 Winter Olympics; the rest of the afternoon is free to explore Salt Lake City on your own, perhaps visiting Temple Square, the Tabernacle, Beehive House or the Family History Library.  We invite you to join us tonight for a farewell reception and dinner.  Meals BD</description>
  <overnight>Hilton Salt Lake City Center, Salt Lake City, UT</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="10">
  <title>Journey Home</title>
  <description>Tour ends: Salt Lake City, Utah. Fly home anytime; for your convenience, Tauck includes a transfer from Hilton Salt Lake City Center to the airport. Allow a minimum of two hours for flight check-in. Meals B

*For activities marked with an asterisk (*) in day-by-day descriptions, participation is at your own risk and a signed liability waiver will be required.</description>
  <overnight></overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast</meals>
</itineraryDay>
  </itineraryDetails>
  <highlights>
		
				South Dakota ~ Wyoming ~ Idaho ~ Utah 
</highlights>
  <tauckValues>
    <value order="1">A private lecture on the ecology of the Great Salt Lake Basin in Salt Lake City</value><value order="2">An opportunity to join Tauck and park experts on a volunteer service project in Grand Teton National Park, a very special experience for Tauck guests only</value><value order="3">Pioneer lunch at the Trail Museum in Idaho, where displays and an interactive presentation re-enact a glimpse of life on the trail for pioneers of the 1850s</value><value order="4">Rafting adventure along the Snake River, surrounded by the spectacular scenery of the Grand Tetons</value><value order="5">Visits to the Crazy Horse Memorial, Mount Rushmore National Memorial and Borglum Historical Center</value><value order="6">Wild West rodeo or a performance of the Dan Miller Cowboy Music Revue in historic Cody</value><value order="7">Airport transfers upon arrival and departure as noted</value><value order="8">20 meals, service charges, gratuities to local guides, admission fees, taxes and porterage</value>
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</tour><tour>
  <sourceId>SN2010</sourceId>
  <title>Paradors of Northern Spain</title>
  <summary>
    <![CDATA[Travel from Barcelona into the dramatic Pyrenees and along Spain&apos;s northern coast, with stays at historic paradors in destinations including San Sebastián, Fuente Dé, León, and the incomparable Santiago de Compostela. As Tauck&apos;s unique Spain tour ends, continue with a journey down the Portuguese coast to Porto and Lisbon. Select Small Group departure dates available with no more than 26 Tauck guests!
]]>
  </summary>
  <description>
    <![CDATA[Explore the mosaic of diverse regions and cities of the north on this Spain tour that includes a taste of Portugal. Discover Catalonia&apos;s distinct culture and proud traditions; the fiercely autonomous Basque region, with its own unique culture and language; and Castile, central to Spain&apos;s medieval history. Enjoy overnight stays in historic paradors – restored palaces, monasteries and castles – and special Tauck experiences including a choice of spa treatment or cooking demonstration at El Castell de Ciutat; a visit to the monastery atop Montserrat; a wine tasting and dinner at a Porto winery, and a cruise aboard a Rabelo boat.
]]>
  </description>
  <link>http://www.tauck.com/tours/europe-tours/spain-tours/spain-tours-sn-2010</link>
  <durationDays>14</durationDays>
  <durationDetails>14 days and 13 nights.</durationDetails>
  <tripType>ESCORTED_TOUR</tripType>
  <brand>TWD</brand>
  <subbrand>Europe</subbrand>
  <gradeRating>ALL_AGES</gradeRating>
  <comfortRating>COMFORTABLE_MIXED</comfortRating>
  <startingLocation>Barcelona, Spain</startingLocation>
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    <price currency="USD">4990</price>
    <priceDetails><![CDATA[All prices are per person in U.S. dollars. ]]></priceDetails>
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    <![CDATA[]]>
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    <itineraryDay day="1">
  <title>Arrive Barcelona</title>
  <description>Tour begins: 6:00 PM, Le Méridien Barcelona. Welcome to Barcelona! A transfer is included from Barcelona Airport to your first night’s hotel, Le Méridien Barcelona, ideally located on Las Ramblas. Join us for a welcome cocktail reception and dinner tonight.</description>
  <overnight>Le Méridien Barcelona, Spain</overnight>
  <meals>Dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="2">
  <title>Art and Architecture in Barcelona</title>
  <description>Join a local guide for a walking tour of Barcelona to the city’s beautiful Cathedral in medieval Barrio Gótico. Take a drive to architect Antoni Gaudí’s extraordinary unfinished masterpiece, la Sagrada Família. Continue on to Montjuïc to see the Olympic Stadium, set high above the city with the harbor glistening below. The remainder of the day is free.</description>
  <overnight>Le Méridien Barcelona, Spain</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="3">
  <title>Country Roads of Catalonia</title>
  <description>Travel to the spectacular mountaintop monastery at Montserrat, Catalonia’s holiest place and one of the most scenic pilgrimage sites in Spain, en route to Cardona. Enjoy a taste of authentic Catalan cuisine during lunch in the medieval dining room of a 9th-century castle, the Parador de Cardona, and visit the Romanesque Church of San Vincente. Drive along the western edge of the Sierra del Cadi to tiny Castellciutat, near historic La Seu d’Urgell. Spend the next two nights surrounded by the majestic beauty of the Pyrenees at one of the region’s top-rated resort hotels. Dine à la carte this evening at the hotel, where the cuisine is inspired by the Mediterranean – most dinners at Northern Spain’s paradors will be full à la carte.</description>
  <overnight>El Castell de Ciutat, La Seu d’Urgell, Spain</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="4">
  <title>The Incomparable Pyrenees</title>
  <description>Visit the 12th-century Cathedral in La Seu d’Urgell, one of the only preserved Romanesque cathedrals in the Catalan Pyrenees. This afternoon you’ll have a choice of activities, including a Catalan cuisine cooking demonstration and a pampering visit to the spa, “dedicated to the five senses.” Feast on a 7-course dinner this evening at a hilltop 9th-century castle on the grounds of your hotel.</description>
  <overnight>El Castell de Ciutat, La Seu d’Urgell, Spain</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="5">
  <title>The Heart of Basque Country</title>
  <description>Travel to San Sebastián, in the heart of Basque country, for a two-night stay at a spectacular Belle Époque hotel. Stop for lunch in Pamplona, site of Spain’s annual running of the bulls, with free time to explore on your own. Your first view of Spain’s popular seaside resort is from the top of Mount Igueldo, a picture-perfect overview of the small city, shell-shaped bay and Cantabrian coastline.</description>
  <overnight>Hotel Maria Cristina, San Sebastián, Spain</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="6">
  <title>Enjoy Seaside San Sebastián</title>
  <description>Join us for a walking tour of Old Town with a local guide before spending the day in San Sebastián, the aristocratic summer capital of Spain, as you wish. Stroll down the narrow medieval streets of La Parte Vieja (old town), sampling typical Basque food, and enjoy the city’s waterfront attractions.</description>
  <overnight>Hotel Maria Cristina, San Sebastián, Spain</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="7">
  <title>Art in Bilbao / Parador de Fuente Dé</title>
  <description>Visit the world-renowned Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao to view works of modern art and continue on to medieval Santillana del Mar. Drive into the impressive Picos de Europa, through gorges, remote villages and emerald valleys, en route to Fuente Dé. Overnight at a parador located in the foothills of the Picos surrounded by woodlands.</description>
  <overnight>Parador de Fuente Dé</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="8">
  <title>Castile / Parador de León</title>
  <description>Cross the Cantabrian Cordilleras on the way to the high Meseta Plateau of Central Spain. The mountains are now behind, with the endless flats and wheat fields of Castile ahead. Arrive in León, where you’ll embark on a city tour with a local guide; visit one of the finest Gothic cathedrals in Spain. Stay tonight at the ornate Parador de León.</description>
  <overnight>Parador de León, Spain</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="9">
  <title>Parador de Santiago de Compostela</title>
  <description>Follow in the footsteps of pilgrims on the Camino of Santiago to Santiago de Compostela. A local guide takes you on a walking tour through its narrow streets for a visit to the Cathedral, final destination of medieval pilgrims and the home of the relics of St. James. Spend the night at the Parador de Santiago de Compostela, which is one of Spain’s (and quite possibly the world’s) oldest hotels – it has been accommodating travelers since the 15th century, set on the same beautiful square as the Cathedral of St. James.</description>
  <overnight>Parador de Santiago de Compostela, Spain</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="10">
  <title>Journey to Porto, Portugal</title>
  <description>Spend the morning at your leisure, before driving across the border to Porto, Portugal, a medieval port city that is nestled on the shores of the Atlantic Ocean.</description>
  <overnight>Sheraton Porto Hotel &amp; Spa, Porto, Portugal</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="11">
  <title>Sightsee Porto </title>
  <description>Giving its name to port wine, Porto’s well-known export, it is not surprising that a tour of the city’s historic sights is entwined with its many wineries. A sightseeing tour with a local guide includes a walking tour along Santa Catarina Street, the colorful market of Bolhão, and a visit to the Gothic Church of São Francisco. Board a traditional Rabelo boat for a cruise on the Douro River; these boats have been used for over 200 years to transport barrels of port wine. You have the afternoon free to do as you please. Tonight, you’ll be able to sample the locally produced product when you visit a winery for a tour that’s followed by a wine tasting and dinner.</description>
  <overnight>Sheraton Porto Hotel &amp; Spa, Porto, Portugal</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="12">
  <title>Coimbra / Fatima / Lisbon</title>
  <description>Portuguese history comes alive today as you journey to Coimbra, where a local guide accompanies you on a visit to Portugal’s oldest university, founded in 1210 by King Dinis; visit historic Saint Michael’s Chapel. See Fatima, world-famous for reported sightings of the Virgin Mary in the early 20th century, and arrive early evening in Lisbon.</description>
  <overnight>Four Seasons Hotel Ritz Lisbon, Portugal</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="13">
  <title>Sightseeing in Lisbon</title>
  <description>Portugal’s capital intrigues with reminders of the “Great Period of Discoveries.” Visit Mosteiro dos Jerónimos and the unique National Coach Museum; see the Tower of Belém, a defensive tower built to commemorate Vasco de Gama’s expedition, and the Discoveries Monument, where 15th-century ships set sail for new worlds. Your afternoon is free for your own explorations before tonight’s farewell cocktail reception and dinner.</description>
  <overnight>Four Seasons Hotel Ritz Lisbon, Portugal</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="14">
  <title>Journey Home</title>
  <description>Tour Ends: Lisbon. Fly home anytime. A transfer from the Four Seasons Hotel Ritz Lisbon to Lisbon’s Int’l Airport is included. Allow a minimum of 2 1/2 hours for check-in.</description>
  <overnight></overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast</meals>
</itineraryDay>
  </itineraryDetails>
  <highlights>		
Barcelona ~ San Sebastían ~ Bilbao ~ Santiago de Compostela ~ Porto ~ Lisbon 
</highlights>
  <tauckValues>
    <value order="1">TAUCKS YELLOW ROADS! Cultural charms and spectacular scenery from Northern Spain to Portugal as you travel the Yellow Roads for several overnight stays in historic paradors, authentically restored castles, palaces and monasteries</value><value order="2">Choice of spa treatment or cooking demonstration at El Castell de Ciutat; seven-course feast in a medieval castle featuring cultural entertainment and regional cuisine</value><value order="3">A visit to the beautiful Benedictine monastery atop saw-toothed Montserrat, a religious center of Catalonia and home of the shrine of La Moreneta</value><value order="4">Wine tasting and dinner at a winery in Porto</value><value order="5">Cruise aboard a Rabelo boat, used for 200 years to transport port wine, along the Douro River in Porto</value><value order="6">Airport transfers upon arrival and departure as noted</value><value order="7">30 meals (13 breakfasts, 7 lunches, 10 dinners), service charges, gratuities to local guides, admission fees, taxes and porterage</value>
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</tour><tour>
  <sourceId>SW2010</sourceId>
  <title>Switzerland</title>
  <summary>
    <![CDATA[No Switzerland travel adventure is complete without picturesque mountains, sparkling lakes and fashionable cities including Montreux, St. Moritz, and Lucerne; journey by cogwheel train in the Alps, by private boat on an alpine lake, and by rail in a private domed observation car aboard the Glacier Express.
]]>
  </summary>
  <description>
    <![CDATA[Explore the best of Switzerland travel with Tauck – from soaring panoramas of the Alps to the serene beauty of her lakes, chic resorts, and four distinct cultures – plus a glimpse of northern Italy’s fashionable lake district. Journey into the Alps in a private domed observation car on the Glacier Express... climb mighty mountains by cogwheel train to car-less Zermatt... stay in world-famous resort towns like Montreaux, Lugano and St. Moritz... and cruise aboard a private boat to the Borromean Islands on Lake Maggiore. Stunning scenery, centuries of rich history and warm, welcoming people await you on Tauck&apos;s Switzerland travel adventure.
]]>
  </description>
  <link>http://www.tauck.com/tours/europe-tours/central-and-eastern-europe-tours/switzerland-tours-sw-2010</link>
  <durationDays>11</durationDays>
  <durationDetails>11 days and 10 nights.</durationDetails>
  <tripType>ESCORTED_TOUR</tripType>
  <brand>TWD</brand>
  <subbrand>Europe</subbrand>
  <gradeRating>ALL_AGES</gradeRating>
  <comfortRating>COMFORTABLE_MIXED</comfortRating>
  <startingLocation>Geneva, Switzerland</startingLocation>
  <prices>
    <price currency="USD">4890</price>
    <priceDetails><![CDATA[All prices are per person in U.S. dollars. ]]></priceDetails>
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  <itinerary>
    <![CDATA[]]>
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  <itineraryDetails>
    <itineraryDay day="1">
  <title>Arrive Geneva / Montreux</title>
  <description>Tour begins: 6:00 PM, Hotel Royal Plaza Montreux. A transfer is included upon your arrival from Geneva International Airport to Montreux and your hotel on the shores of beautiful Lake Geneva. Join us this evening for a welcome reception and dinner.</description>
  <overnight>Hotel Royal Plaza Montreux, Switzerland</overnight>
  <meals>Dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="2">
  <title>Chillon / Gruyères / Zermatt</title>
  <description>Visit lovely Château de Chillon, a castle set on Lake Geneva made famous by Lord Byron in his epic poem The Prisoner of Chillon. Travel to the idyllic region of Gruyères, comprised of scenic farmland in the foothills of the Alps, surrounded by majestic mountain peaks. Visit the charming town of Gruyères and the former castle of the counts; most of the castle dates from the late 15th century, recalling both the feudal period and the refinements of the 18th century. Journey to Visp, where you climb toward Zermatt by cogwheel train; your accommodations for the next two nights are situated in the heart of this chalet-filled resort town, nestled at the foot of the Matterhorn.</description>
  <overnight>Mont Cervin Palace, Zermatt, Switzerland</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="3">
  <title>Cogwheel Train; View the Matterhorn</title>
  <description>Journey by cogwheel train up to Gornergrat, weather permitting (elevation is 10,225 feet), one of the best viewing points for experiencing breathtaking vistas of the mighty Matterhorn, one of Switzerland’s most distinctive mountain peaks. You will have time to enjoy a cup of coffee or an aperitif amidst this alpine wonderland before descending to Zermatt for time at leisure.</description>
  <overnight>Mont Cervin Palace, Zermatt, Switzerland</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="4">
  <title>Lake Maggiore / Lugano</title>
  <description>Descend by rail from Zermatt to board a coach for the trip over the 6,578-ft. Simplon Pass. Arrive in the resort town of Stresa on Lake Maggiore in Italy where a private water taxi awaits to take you to Isola Bella (“beautiful island”). In 1632, Carlo III of the influential House of Borromeo started work on a magnificent palazzo; when completed years later, the sumptuous villa was the site for lavish parties and theatrical events. Visit the palace and gardens, built in the shape of a ship, before continuing on to the resort city of Lugano, nestled on the shores of Lago di Lugano.</description>
  <overnight>Grand Hotel Eden, Lugano, Switzerland</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="5">
  <title>Lugano at Leisure</title>
  <description>Enjoy a relaxing day in Lugano – there is much to see and do in this city framed by the peaks of Monte Bré and Monte San Salvatore. Be sure to visit the Via Nassa, or take a walk in the old town with its cobblestone alleys and lanes. Numerous vessels traverse the lake and call on little villages along the shore; Gandria and Morcote are particularly memorable.</description>
  <overnight>Grand Hotel Eden, Lugano, Switzerland</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="6">
  <title>Alpine Magic En Route to St. Moritz</title>
  <description>View some of the most beautiful scenery in Europe as you cross between Italy and Switzerland along Via Regina, the old Roman road. Drive over the Maloja Pass en route to St. Moritz; scenic roads are lined with clear lakes and majestic mountains that are the essence of Switzerland. Spend the night in St. Moritz, one of the world’s most famous alpine resorts. Originally known for its mineral springs, discovered about 3,000 years ago, today it is a popular spot for great wintertime skiing – and celebrity spotting.</description>
  <overnight>Kempinski Grand Hotel des Bains, St. Moritz, Switzerland</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="7">
  <title>Glacier Express / Grindelwald</title>
  <description>Ride The Glacier Express aboard a private panoramic dome car through the magnificent Alps, where you’ll travel along silver streams, beneath massive peaks with crystal-blue glaciers and through lush valleys speckled with tiny alpine villages. Depart the train at Andermatt for a spectacular drive over Susten Pass, weather permitting, to the glacier village of Grindelwald. Your accommodations for two nights are at the historic Grand Regina – Alpin Well &amp;amp; Fit Hotel, which is close to many interesting shops and cafés, and surrounded by alpine beauty.</description>
  <overnight>Grand Regina – Alpin Well &amp; Fit Hotel, Grindelwald, Switzerland</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="8">
  <title>Jungfraujoch Excursion</title>
  <description>This part of the Bernese Oberland has come to be known as Switzerland’s “jewel in the crown.” Given reasonable weather, today’s excursion to “the top of the world” will be a most memorable highlight as your mountain railway train ascends into the majestic Swiss Alps. Arrive at Kleine Scheidegg, the famous mountain station at the foot of the Eiger. Continue to the Jungfraujoch (11,333 feet), where there is time to take in fabulous views or visit the Ice Palace. Weather permitting, superb views extend as far as the summits of the Vosges Mountains in France and the Black Forest in Germany. Spend the remainder of the day at your leisure in Grindelwald. A popular Swiss ski and winter sport resort, the town is surrounded by folkloric hamlets, swift streams, and quintessential Swiss landscapes that are summertime treats and the stuff of storybooks. Your hotel, a member of The Leading Small Hotels of the World, is situated at the foot of the Eiger and Jungfrau mountains; it boasts a range of spa treatments and activities.</description>
  <overnight>Grand Regina – Alpin Well &amp; Fit Hotel, Grindelwald, Switzerland</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="9">
  <title>Interlaken / Berne / Lucerne</title>
  <description>Savor one last view of the incredible peaks of the Jungfrau region before traveling along crystal-clear Lutschine Creek toward Interlaken, then continuing through the Bernese Oberland to Berne, Switzerland’s capital. The Old City of Berne is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, renowned for medieval architecture, sandstone arcades, fountains, and thick, sturdy towers. Your destination today is the lakeside city of Lucerne. Visit the Löwendenkmal (Lion Memorial), dedicated to the Swiss Guards who died defending Louis XVI in 1792, before arriving at your hotel. Spend the next two nights on Lake Lucerne at one of Europe’s most renowned hotels. Located in the heart of the Old Town of Lucerne, the Hotel Schweizerhof Luzern overlooks the lake; it was built in 1845, reflecting the grand architectural and design styles of the 19th century. Dine at your leisure tonight in the hotel.</description>
  <overnight>Hotel Schweizerhof Luzern, Lucerne, Switzerland</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="10">
  <title>Lucerne at Leisure</title>
  <description>Enjoy a guided walking tour of lakeside Lucerne; a renowned cultural center, the city evokes images of a storybook alpine town, with narrow cobblestone streets, slender spires and turrets, covered bridges, frescoed houses, and fountains. Spend the afternoon as you please; there are magnificent shops, galleries and cafés to explore along the maze of old streets, nooks and hidden alleyways. Take a cruise across the lake this evening to a waterfront resort for a special farewell dinner.</description>
  <overnight>Hotel Schweizerhof Luzern, Lucerne, Switzerland</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="11">
  <title>Journey Home</title>
  <description>Tour ends: Lucerne. Fly home anytime. A transfer is included from the Hotel Schweizerhof Luzern to the Zurich Airport, a distance of approximately 34 miles; allow a minimum of 2 1/2 hours for flight check-in.</description>
  <overnight></overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast</meals>
</itineraryDay>
  </itineraryDetails>
  <highlights>		
Montreux ~ Zermatt ~ Lugano ~ St. Moritz ~ Grindelwald ~ Lucerne 
</highlights>
  <tauckValues>
    <value order="1">TAUCKS YELLOW ROADS! 11 days of in-depth exploration amidst some of Europes most awe-inspiring scenery, venturing to tiny alpine villages steeped in charm and glistening lakes radiant with natural beauty</value><value order="2">A cogwheel rail journey to your alpine resort in Zermatt, where views of the Matterhorn take your breath away</value><value order="3">Passage aboard Taucks private domed observation car on The Glacier Express, the most famous train in Switzerland, on an unforgettable rail journey through the Alps</value><value order="4">A private Tauck boat ride on Lake Maggiore to Isola Bella in the beautiful Borromean Islands</value><value order="5">An overnight stay in one of the worlds most famous alpine resorts, St. Moritz</value><value order="6">Airport transfers upon arrival and departure as noted</value><value order="7">20 meals (10 breakfasts, 3 lunches, 7 dinners), service charges, gratuities to local guides, admission fees, taxes and porterage</value>
  </tauckValues>  
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    <date>
    <day>20</day>
    <month>6</month>
    <year>2010</year>
    <singlesPrice>5530</singlesPrice>
    <doublesPrice>4890</doublesPrice>
    <triplesPrice>4750</triplesPrice>
    <quadsPrice>0</quadsPrice>
    
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    <triplesPrice>4750</triplesPrice>
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  </date>
  <date>
    <day>27</day>
    <month>6</month>
    <year>2010</year>
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  </date>
  <date>
    <day>18</day>
    <month>7</month>
    <year>2010</year>
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    <triplesPrice>4750</triplesPrice>
    <quadsPrice>0</quadsPrice>
    
  </date>
  <date>
    <day>15</day>
    <month>8</month>
    <year>2010</year>
    <singlesPrice>5530</singlesPrice>
    <doublesPrice>4890</doublesPrice>
    <triplesPrice>4750</triplesPrice>
    <quadsPrice>0</quadsPrice>
    
  </date>
  <date>
    <day>29</day>
    <month>8</month>
    <year>2010</year>
    <singlesPrice>5530</singlesPrice>
    <doublesPrice>4890</doublesPrice>
    <triplesPrice>4750</triplesPrice>
    <quadsPrice>0</quadsPrice>
    
  </date>
  <date>
    <day>17</day>
    <month>9</month>
    <year>2010</year>
    <singlesPrice>5530</singlesPrice>
    <doublesPrice>4890</doublesPrice>
    <triplesPrice>4750</triplesPrice>
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  </date>

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</tour><tour>
  <sourceId>TZ2010</sourceId>
  <title>Tanzania: A Grand Safari</title>
  <summary>
    <![CDATA[		
Tauck&apos;s in-depth African safari through Tanzania offers outstanding wildlife viewing of Africa&apos;s Big Five on game drives that take you from Tarangire National Park to the famed Serengeti.
]]>
  </summary>
  <description>
    <![CDATA[		
This grand African safari takes you to some of Tanzania’s most renowned game reserves for the vacation of a lifetime. Take this opportunity to observe Africa’s Big Five -- elephant, leopard, lion, rhinoceros, and buffalo. One of the most thrilling ways to see Tanzania is from the basket of a hot-air balloon floating over the savannah. In addition, see stunning landscapes, local villages, and one of mankind’s most important archaeological sites. Travel by safari vehicles within Serengeti, Tarangire, and Lake Manyara National Parks, plus Ngorongoro Crater. Stay in luxury safari lodges and tented camps for an in-depth, up-close African safari experience.
]]>
  </description>
  <link>http://www.tauck.com/tours/africa-travel/african-safari-tz-2010</link>
  <durationDays>11</durationDays>
  <durationDetails>11 days and 10 nights.</durationDetails>
  <tripType>ESCORTED_TOUR</tripType>
  <brand>TWD</brand>
  <subbrand>Exotics</subbrand>
  <gradeRating>ALL_AGES</gradeRating>
  <comfortRating>COMFORTABLE_MIXED</comfortRating>
  <startingLocation>Arusha, Tanzania</startingLocation>
  <prices>
    <price currency="USD">5765</price>
    <priceDetails><![CDATA[All prices are per person in U.S. dollars. ]]></priceDetails>
  </prices>
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  <itinerary>
    <![CDATA[
		

1. Arrive Arusha, Tanzania



Tour begins: Serena Mountain Village, Arusha. 
Welcome to Tanzania; a transfer from Kilimanjaro International Airport to Serena Mountain Village, Arusha is included. Although most flights land at Arusha’s airport after the sun has set, thoughts of Ernest Hemingway’s legendary novel, The Snows of Kilimanjaro, will cross your mind as you journey the short distance from the airport to your hotel overlooking the smooth waters of Lake Duluti. 

2. Tarangire National Park
Dreams become reality this morning as you depart your hotel in safari vehicles for your first experience at wildlife viewing, Tauck Style. Your destination today is prehistoric-looking Tarangire National Park, where you’ll see the African wilderness as the early explorers did – without crowds! One of the best parks on the northern circuit to see elephants, Tarangire’s wildlife population includes herds of zebra, jackal, giraffe, gazelle, and buffalo. Arrive at your safari lodge in time for lunch and an afternoon game drive into a landscape dotted with baobab trees and umbrella-thorn acacias. Join us for a welcome reception and dinner at the lodge tonight. Meals BLD
 3. Tarangire Game Drives
Spend a full day in Tarangire National Park on morning and afternoon game drives that reveal an honest glimpse of an unspoiled Africa. Home to over 550 species of birds (one of the highest number of bird species of any world habitat), and thousands of game animals, Tarangire boasts one of the highest concentrations of African wildlife during the dry season. Your open-top safari vehicle provides you with intimate viewing of this natural wilderness, considered one of Africa’s finest. Meals BLD
 4. Lake Manyara National Park
Observe gazelle, waterbuck, impala, leopard and other year-round inhabitants of Tarangire National Park on a morning game drive. Depart Tarangire and travel to Lake Manyara National Park, considered a birdwatcher’s delight for the pink flamingos and great birds of prey; it is world-renowned among ornithologists. On the way, stop at a local school, where you’ll have an opportunity to interact with students and their teachers. Arrive at your lodge, set on the Rift Valley escarpment overlooking the park and valley below. Look for tree-climbing lions on an exciting afternoon game drive. Meals BLD
 5. Ngorongoro Conservation Area
Encounter Lake Manyara’s flora and fauna this morning on a nature walk throughout the tranquil grounds of your lodge, whose interesting architecture was inspired by the area’s renowned birdlife and the geometric patterns of traditional Masai encampments. Visit the village of Mto wa Mbu, set on the banks of the river of the same name, for an in-depth look at tribal life in the African bush; take a look inside a typical home. After lunch, travel to the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, home to Ngorongoro Crater – one of the largest concentrations of permanent wildlife in Africa. Built into the dormant volcano’s rim, Ngorongoro Serena Lodge takes advantage of its spectacular location high above the crater floor; private terraces open up to stunning views of the “lost world” far below – an incredible sight from dawn to dusk. Meals BLD
 6. Ngorongoro Crater
Experience the true spirit of Africa, the Africa of bygone days, when you explore wildlife-rich Ngorongoro Crater, long regarded as Africa’s “Garden of Eden.” Within the walls of the crater lie short grasslands, swamps, forests and a freshwater lake, inspiring continual migration of animals in and out of the crater. From the comfort of your four-wheel drive vehicle, crafted exclusively for Tauck World Discovery, you’ll have an opportunity to spot the Big Five – buffalo, elephant, leopard, the black maned lion and the rare black rhinoceros – as well as hyenas, baboons, and flamingos. Enjoy a delightful picnic lunch in the heart of this ancient volcanic crater; it is sure to be a memorable highlight of your safari. Meals BLD
 7. Olduvai Gorge / Masai Village
First stop today is Olduvai Gorge, where archaeologists Louis and Mary Leakey discovered the fossilized remains of the earliest known man, believed to be about 1.8 million years old. Visit a Masai village in the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, then set off for the grasslands of the Serengeti; be prepared for bumps and bounces along the unpaved roads. You’ll have many opportunities for wildlife viewing en route to your safari lodge, styled after traditional Masai dwellings. Meals BLD
 8. Hot Air Balloon Above the Serengeti
Awake for an exciting and romantic hot air balloon flight at dawn that takes you over the vast Serengeti savanna, observing the early morning rituals of the reserve’s abundant wildlife from aloft. Enjoy a champagne breakfast in the bush upon landing. An afternoon game drive brings you into the heart of the Serengeti’s endless plains where you may spot hyena, leopard, cheetah, zebra, elephant, hippos, rhinoceros, buffalo, jackals, and the graceful reedbuck. Be on the lookout for prides of lions as this is one of the best places on the continent to see them! Have dinner at your leisure tonight, savoring a colorful African sunset. Meals BLD
 9. Kirawira Tented Camp
Travel to the western corridor of the Serengeti for a memorable two-night stay in Kirawira Tented Camp. Your tented camp accommodations are the height of luxury in the African bush, commanding extraordinarily intimate views of “the soul of the African wilderness.” The camp is built in the remote region of the Grumeti River, where throughout the year game animals may include wildebeest, lion, buffalo, cheetah, warthogs, giraffes, and zebra. Go on a game drive this afternoon with an experienced guide who takes you across undisturbed open grasslands for exclusive wildlife encounters. Meals BLD
 10. Western Serengeti Safari Game Drives
Rise early for a morning game drive as a new day dawns in the Serengeti, witnessing first-hand vivid vignettes representative of Africa’s circle of life. Your safari guide will share fascinating insights into the poignant everyday rituals of the wildlife residing within the African bush. Game-watching this afternoon precedes traditional sundowner cocktails at Kirawira poolside, offering an opportunity to reflect on the spiritual side of your safari experience in magnificent Tanzania. Meals BLD
 11. Journey HomeTour ends: Arusha. 
A short air journey returns you to Arusha, where your safari ends; a day room has been reserved for you at Serena Mountain Village, Arusha, set within the lovely gardens of a tree-shaded coffee plantation overlooking Lake Duluti. Join us for dinner at the hotel. Transfers will be provided from Serena Mountain Village, Arusha, to Kilimanjaro International Airport. Meals BLD
]]>
  </itinerary>
  <itineraryDetails>
    <itineraryDay day="1">
  <title>Arrive Arusha, Tanzania</title>
  <description>Tour begins: Serena Mountain Village, Arusha. Welcome to Tanzania; a transfer from Kilimanjaro International Airport to Serena Mountain Village, Arusha is included. Although most flights land at Kilimanjaro International Airport after the sun has set, thoughts of Ernest Hemingway’s legendary novel, The Snows of Kilimanjaro, will come to mind as you journey the short distance from the airport to your hotel overlooking the reflective waters of Lake Duluti.</description>
  <overnight>Serena Mountain Village, Arusha, Tanzania</overnight>
  <meals></meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="2">
  <title>Tarangire National Park</title>
  <description>Dreams become reality this morning as you depart your hotel in safari vehicles for your first safari* game drive. Your destination today is prehistoric-looking Tarangire National Park, where you’ll have your first experience at wildlife viewing in the African wilderness! One of the best parks on the northern circuit to see elephants, Tarangire’s wildlife population includes herds of zebra, jackal, giraffe, gazelle, and buffalo. Enjoy lunch, al fresco, before experiencing a game drive into a landscape dotted with baobab trees and umbrella-thorn acacias on the way to your eco-friendly lodge. Join us for a welcome reception and dinner tonight by the campfire.</description>
  <overnight>Kikoti Tented Camp, Tarangire National Park, Tanzania</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="3">
  <title>Tarangire Game Drives</title>
  <description>Explore Tarangire National Park on a morning game drive that reveals an honest glimpse of an unspoiled Africa. Home to over 550 species of birds (one of the highest number of bird species of any world habitat), and thousands of game animals, Tarangire boasts one of the highest concentrations of African wildlife during the dry season. Your open-top safari vehicle provides you with intimate viewing of this natural wilderness, considered one of Africa’s finest. Spend the afternoon getting to know the local Maasai tribe. Try your hand at bead-making or spear-throwing, practical necessities of living in the bush. Get the big picture of life in the plains when you drive over to “The Viewpoint” for panoramic vistas of this wilderness region.</description>
  <overnight>Kikoti Tented Camp, Tarangire National Park, Tanzania</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="4">
  <title>Lake Manyara National Park</title>
  <description>Go to the head of the class today when you meet Maasai children at a primary school sponsored by donations from Tauck; continue on to Lake Manyara National Park. Considered a bird watcher’s delight for the pink flamingos and great birds of prey that call it home, it is world-renowned among ornithologists. Arrive for an overnight at Lake Manyara Serena Lodge, set on the Rift Valley escarpment overlooking the park and valley below. Be on the lookout for tree-climbing cats on an exciting afternoon game drive after lunch.</description>
  <overnight>Lake Manyara Serena Lodge, Lake Manyara National Park, Tanzania</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="5">
  <title>Life in a Maasai Village</title>
  <description>A nature walk around the tranquil grounds of your lodge explains its interesting architecture; it was inspired by the area’s renowned bird life and the geometric patterns of traditional Maasai encampments like the village you will visit today. Mto wa Mbu is set on the banks of the river of the same name. Get an in-depth look at tribal life in the African bush when you go inside a typical home in this small village. After lunch, travel to the Ngorongoro Conservation Area, home to Ngorongoro Crater and one of the largest concentrations of permanent wildlife in Africa. Your lodge is built right into the dormant volcano’s rim, offering you stunning views of the “lost world” far below.</description>
  <overnight>Ngorongoro Serena Lodge, Ngorongoro Crater, Tanzania</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="6">
  <title>Ngorongoro Crater</title>
  <description>Experience the true spirit of Africa, the Africa of bygone days, when you explore wildlife-rich Ngorongoro Crater, long regarded as Africa’s “Garden of Eden.” Within the walls of the crater lie short grasslands, swamps, forests, and a freshwater lake, inspiring continual migration of animals in and out of the crater. From the comfort of your four-wheel- drive vehicle, crafted exclusively for Tauck World Discovery, you’ll have an opportunity to spot the “Big Five” – buffalo, elephant, leopard, the black-maned lion and the rare black rhinoceros – as well as hyenas, baboons, and flamingos. Picnic in the heart of this ancient volcanic crater, sure to be a memorable highlight of your safari.</description>
  <overnight>Ngorongoro Serena Safari Lodge, Ngorongoro Crater, Tanzania</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="7">
  <title>Olduvai Gorge / Maasai Village</title>
  <description>Fifty years ago this year, famed archaeologists Louis and Mary Leakey discovered the fossilized remains of the earliest known man – believed to be about 1.8 million years old – at&amp;nbsp; Olduvai Gorge. Learn more about the site’s important architectural digs on a docent-led tour, before visiting a Maasai village in the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. This afternoon set off for the grasslands of the Serengeti; be prepared for bumps and bounces along the unpaved roads. You’ll have many outstanding opportunities for wildlife viewing en route to your safari lodge.</description>
  <overnight>Serengeti Serena Safari Lodge, Serengeti National Park, Tanzania</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="8">
  <title>Hot Air Balloon Above the Serengeti</title>
  <description>Rise early for a hot air balloon flight* at dawn that takes you over the vast Serengeti savanna; you will be able to observe the daily morning rituals of the reserve’s abundant wildlife from aloft while soaring undetected over the animals below. A champagne breakfast in the bush upon landing promises to enrich this very special safari experience. This afternoon look for hyena, leopard, cheetah, zebra, elephant, hippos, rhinoceros, buffalo and jackals on an afternoon game drive in the Serengeti; renowned for premier wildlife viewing, this is also the best place to find prides of lions.</description>
  <overnight>Serengeti Serena Safari Lodge, Serengeti National Park, Tanzania</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="9">
  <title>Kirawira Tented Camp</title>
  <description>Travel to the western corridor of the Serengeti for a memorable two-night stay in Kirawira Tented Camp. Your tented camp accommodations are the height of luxury in the African bush, commanding extraordinarily intimate views of “the soul of the African wilderness.” The camp is built in the remote region of the Grumeti River, where throughout the year game animals may include wildebeest, lion, buffalo, cheetah, warthogs, giraffes, and zebra. Go on a game drive this afternoon with an experienced guide who takes you across the open, treeless, and undisturbed plains of the Serengeti for exclusive wildlife encounters.</description>
  <overnight>Kirawira Tented Camp, Serengeti National Park, Tanzania</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="10">
  <title>Western Serengeti Safari Game Drives</title>
  <description>et ready for an early morning game drive as a new day dawns in the Serengeti, witnessing firsthand vivid vignettes representative of Africa’s circle of life. Game watching this afternoon precedes traditional sundowner cocktails at Kirawira poolside, offering an opportunity to reflect on the spiritual side of your safari experience – and a colorful sunset – in magnificent Tanzania.</description>
  <overnight>Kirawira Tented Camp, Serengeti National Park, Tanzania</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="11">
  <title>Journey Home</title>
  <description>Tour ends: Arusha. Fly back to Arusha, where your safari ends with a visit to a coffee plantation. We’ve also reserved a day room for you at Serena Mountain Village, Arusha, so you can refresh and relax before your long journey home. Join us for dinner tonight at the hotel. Transfers are included to Kilimanjaro International Airport.</description>
  <overnight>(Day) Serena Mountain Village, Arusha, Tanzania</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay>
  </itineraryDetails>
  <highlights>		Tarangire and Serengeti National Parks ~ Lake Manyara ~ Ngorongoro Crater
</highlights>
  <tauckValues>
    <value order="1">Private game drives aboard Taucks open-top safari vehicles in Tarangire, Lake Manyara and Serengeti national parks  led by expert guides for unparalleled wildlife viewing</value><value order="2">A hot air balloon ride over the Serengeti plains at dawn, followed by a champagne breakfast  a $460 value</value><value order="3">4 nights in Serengeti National Park  2 in a Maasai Rondavel-styled lodge and 2 in a luxury tented camp</value><value order="4">Authentic African safari sundowner cocktail parties</value><value order="5">A memorable picnic lunch in the heart of ancient Ngorongoro Crater, Africas Garden of Eden</value><value order="6">Visits to local villages in the Lake Manyara and Ngorongoro areas, where youll meet tribal people and learn about their culture</value><value order="7">Group size limited to no more than 24 guests</value><value order="8">All meals  30 (10 breakfasts, 10 lunches, 10 dinners)</value><value order="9">Gratuities to local guides, service charges, taxes, porterage and airport transfers</value>
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    <date>
    <day>29</day>
    <month>5</month>
    <year>2010</year>
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    <triplesPrice>6130</triplesPrice>
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</tour><tour>
  <sourceId>VF2010</sourceId>
  <title>Provence</title>
  <summary>
    <![CDATA[
		
Food and art are passions in Provence... amazing hands-on experiences
from gastronomic discoveries to wine tastings to uncovering the
mysteries of Starry Night... these are all things Culturious in Provence. 
]]>
  </summary>
  <description>
    <![CDATA[A transfer is included from Marseille Provence Airport to your hotel, Le Pigonnet , in Aix-en-Provence. Seeing luminous Provençal landscapes through the eyes of Cézanne, then picturing them with your own hand… picking up a few phrases en Francais with a language lesson in Aix… discovering the flavors of fougasse, goat cheese, ratatouille, and herbes de Provence… mastering the art of preparing Provençal cuisine with a local chef... pub crawling in St.-Rémy-de-Provence… walking in the footsteps of van Gogh… kayaking on the Sorgue River… discussing French politics with the locals in Joucas… wrapping yourself up in Provençal life dawn to dusk. 2010 pricing starts at US $3,490 per person double.  Maximum group size is 16. 
]]>
  </description>
  <link>http://culturious.com/provence/</link>
  <durationDays>8</durationDays>
  <durationDetails>8 days and 7 nights.</durationDetails>
  <tripType>ESCORTED_TOUR</tripType>
  <brand>Culturious</brand>
  <subbrand>Europe</subbrand>
  <gradeRating>ALL_AGES</gradeRating>
  <comfortRating>COMFORTABLE_MIXED</comfortRating>
  <startingLocation>Marseille</startingLocation>
  <prices>
    <price currency="USD">3490</price>
    <priceDetails><![CDATA[All prices are per person in U.S. dollars. ]]></priceDetails>
  </prices>
  <images>
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    <image>http://tools.tauck.com/Files/ItineraryImages/altImages/VF2010_alt1.jpg</image>
    <image>http://tools.tauck.com/Files/ItineraryImages/altImages/VF2010_alt2.jpg</image>
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  </images>
  <itinerary>
    <![CDATA[A transfer is included from Marseille Provence Airport to your hotel, Le Pigonnet , in Aix-en-Provence. Seeing luminous Provençal landscapes through the eyes of Cézanne, then picturing them with your own hand… picking up a few phrases en Francais with a language lesson in Aix… discovering the flavors of fougasse, goat cheese, ratatouille, and herbes de Provence… mastering the art of preparing Provençal cuisine with a local chef... pub crawling in St.-Rémy-de-Provence… walking in the footsteps of van Gogh… kayaking on the Sorgue River… discussing French politics with the locals in Joucas… wrapping yourself up in Provençal life dawn to dusk. 2010 pricing starts at US $3,490 per person double.  Maximum group size is 16. 

1. Aix. Art. A mansion hotel.
Tour begins: Marseille. Bienvenue! As it has millions of wayfarers before you – and not a few sailors from all corners of the globe – the old port of Marseille welcomes you to the south of France. And so commences a sensual journey through Provence… past lavender fields and ancient stone walls… a true feast for the senses. To the locals, Aix-en-Provence is simply “Aix.” Strolling its boulevards with a local guide, you’re taking in the same views that inspired Cézanne… Gauguin… van Gogh… Zola… no doubt ready to share your own – shall we say – impressions of this charming old university town with the world. So what will it be… a drawing? A painting? A novel? Take your time to decide. But first, join us for cocktails, canapés, and a sumptuous dinner in your 18th-century mansion hotel. There’s no hurry… this is Provence, after all. Meals D
 
2. C&apos;est Cézanne
Walk in the footsteps of post-Impressionist painter Paul Cézanne through his hometown. See the landscapes he painted, and the fields where local residents became his subjects. Step into the studio where props pictured in his still-lifes remain, many just as he left them. Aix’s grandest boulevard, the Cours Mirabeau, dates back to the 17th century. Lined with plane-trees, elaborate fountains and opulent mansions, it invites a leisurely bike ride, a brisk walk, or a cognac in one of its many popular cafés. Garner a few handy phrases en Francais during a French lesson, and hike up to a favorite painting spot of Cézanne’s, Inspiration Point, where you might be inspired yourself to create a masterwork of your own. Cézanne loved the views of Mont Sainte-Victoire... Meals B

3. Time stands still
Some call the hilltop villages of Luberon the “sentinels of time.” No wonder. Looking out over wild stretches of cedar and oak, they seem to have been here forever. Gordes, with its arcaded medieval lanes twisting, invites you to sample its cheeses, olive oils and breads on market day. Take a few hours’ walk (or a shorter walk, if you prefer) to Roussillon, where the deep ochre used in the town&apos;s architecture harmoniously blends into the warmth of the natural surroundings. Spend some time in a little café, perhaps over lunch – gossip, daydream, while away some time... Stroll among Bonnieux’s narrow streets and 13th-century walls; perhaps you&apos;ll unwind over a pastis at a café. Arriving in Joucas, you&apos;ll receive a warm welcome at your gem of a hotel, Hostellerie Le Phébus. Dine tonight at the hotel, where the chef / owner was recently awarded the &quot;Rising Chef&quot; award by Relais &amp; Chateaux. BD

4. Bories, Abbeys &amp; Boules
A little morning exercise can warm you up for more adventures among the chalk cliffs, fairy tale villages, meadows and moorlands of the Luberon. In a nearby village, pick up the makings of a traditional picnic lunch – perhaps a baguette, fruits and meats, cheese, olives and, naturellement, wine… whatever tempts your palate! Today you&apos;ll take a walk to the beautiful Abbaye de Sananque; your path is a treat for the senses. Rich with color, chalk and red ochre cliffs, cedar forests, taupe moorlands and river hewn gorges surround. No matter what time you visit, during lavender season or not, your imagination can picture it in full bloom in the meadows surrounding the 900-year-old Abbaye de Senanque, still home to Cistercian monks. Picnic in a Provençal meadow, then return to Joucas. Spend an afternoon hiking, biking, riding or what-have-you (there is an exquisite spa, pool, gardens) in Joucas; and learn to play a game of boules, a Provence tradition. Meals BL

Day 5: Kayaking on the Sorgue &amp; on to Arles and St. Rémy

After bubbling away deep beneath the hills of Provence, the most powerful spring in France bursts forth at nearly 20,000 gallons per second to feed the mysterious Sorgue River. Climb aboard a kayak and paddle along this picturesque waterway from Fontaine-de-Vaucluse to L’Isle-sur-la-Sorgue... and check out the waterwheels! The Romans felt it. So did the builders of its Romanesque churches… and artists from van Gogh to Picasso, who particularly loved the pubs. And so will you – strolling its boulevards and leafy squares… lunching in one of its charming cafés… people-watching within a city of contrasts. Arrive late afternoon in St-Rémy-de-Provence and a fantastic boutique hotel. Tonight you&apos;ll discover the allure of “pub crawling” – not the tourist places, but the pubs where the locals go. Meals B

6. What’s Cooking in Avignon
On market day in Avignon, partake in the process of bringing great Provençal food from the market to the plate. Join a chef on a buying trip to an Avignon market – smelling, tasting, and feeling your way through the fresh produce, breads, meats and cheeses. Learn the chef’s kitchen secrets firsthand as you help prepare a traditional meal in a hands-on cooking lesson. And after a professional sommelier guides you through a tasting of fine Rhone wines, it’s time to eat… drink… and be very merry. For much of the 14th century, the Roman Catholic popes ruled from Avignon. Take an insider’s look at the ten-towered Palais des Papes, more fortress than palace – or if you wish, explore lovely Avignon on your own. You&apos;ll have free time today to spend as you wish. A bicycle ride? A walk? A long afternoon drink in a café? In St. Rémy, after-dinner drinks often lead to lively discussions on every topic under the Provençal sun... Meals BL

7. Van Gogh’s Footsteps in Provence
Art and beauty are one... shared with the world by Vincent van Gogh, whose work personified the region’s extraordinary light. Visit the asylum of Saint-Paul-de-Mausole in St-Rémy-de-Provence, where van Gogh created over 150 works including Starry Night. Glimpse inside the artist’s mind as van Gogh scholar Mathilde Duvilliers shares insights on his complicated life, and reads from his letters, while you walk in his footsteps. Sample the fruits of the vineyards at a tasting at Chateau d’Estoublon. The setting is enchanting – Rhone wines are among the finest in France, and with olive oils, tapenades, olives and fresh-baked bread, you will also be enchanté! High atop a rocky outcrop lies the dramatic fortress of Les Baux-de-Provence; take a trip back to the 10th century... Celebrate the flavors of Provence with cocktails, canapés and a spectacular dinner of local specialties... a perfect finis to Provence travel days! Meals BD

8. Au revoir, Provence…
Tour ends: Marseille. A transfer will be provided from Hostellerie du Vallon de Valrugues. The warm, inviting colors… sun-kissed meadows… those amazing Provençal flavors… intangible sensory imagery that linger not only on the return to Marseille and on your flight home… but far beyond… Meals B

]]>
  </itinerary>
  <itineraryDetails>
    <itineraryDay day="1">
  <title>Aix.  Art.  A mansion hotel.</title>
  <description>Tour begins: Marseille.  Bienvenue! As it has millions of wayfarers before you &amp;#45; and not a few sailors from all corners of the globe &amp;#45; the old port of Marseille welcomes you to the south of France.  And so commences a sensual journey through Provence&amp;#133; past lavender fields and ancient stone walls&amp;#133; a true feast for the senses.  To the locals, Aix&amp;#45;en&amp;#45;Provence is simply “Aix.” Strolling its boulevards with a local guide, you&apos;re taking in the same views that inspired C&amp;#233;zanne&amp;#133; Gauguin&amp;#133; van Gogh&amp;#133; Zola&amp;#133; no doubt ready to share your own &amp;#45; shall we say &amp;#45; impressions of this charming old university town with the world.  So what will it be&amp;#133; a drawing? A painting? A novel? Take your time to decide.  But first, join us for cocktails, canap&amp;#233;s, and a sumptuous dinner in your 18th&amp;#45;century mansion hotel.  There&apos;s no hurry&amp;#133; this is Provence, after all.  Meals D</description>
  <overnight>Le Pigonnet – Aix-en-Provence, France</overnight>
  <meals>Dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="2">
  <title>C&apos;est C&amp;#233;zanne</title>
  <description>Walk in the footsteps of post&amp;#45;Impressionist painter Paul C&amp;#233;zanne through his hometown.  See the landscapes he painted, and the fields where local residents became his subjects.  Step into the studio where props pictured in his still&amp;#45;lifes remain, many just as he left them.  Aix&apos;s grandest boulevard, the Cours Mirabeau, dates back to the 17th century.  Lined with plane&amp;#45;trees, elaborate fountains and opulent mansions, it invites a leisurely bike ride, a brisk walk, or a cognac in one of its many popular caf&amp;#233;s.  Garner a few handy phrases en Francais during a French lesson, and hike up to a favorite painting spot of C&amp;#233;zanne&apos;s, Inspiration Point, where you might be inspired yourself to create a masterwork of your own.  C&amp;#233;zanne loved the views of Mont Sainte&amp;#45;Victoire...  Meals B</description>
  <overnight>Le Pigonnet – Aix-en-Provence, France</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="3">
  <title>Time stands still</title>
  <description>Some call the hilltop villages of Luberon the “sentinels of time.” No wonder.  Looking out over wild stretches of cedar and oak, they seem to have been here forever.  Gordes, with its arcaded medieval lanes twisting, invites you to sample its cheeses, olive oils and breads on market day.  Take a few hours&apos; walk (or a shorter walk, if you prefer) to Roussillon, where the deep ochre used in the town&apos;s architecture harmoniously blends into the warmth of the natural surroundings.  Spend some time in a little caf&amp;#233;, perhaps over lunch &amp;#45; gossip, daydream, while away some time...  Stroll among Bonnieux&apos;s narrow streets and 13th&amp;#45;century walls; perhaps you&apos;ll unwind over a pastis at a caf&amp;#233;.  Arriving in Joucas, you&apos;ll receive a warm welcome at your gem of a hotel, Hostellerie Le Ph&amp;#233;bus.  Dine tonight at the hotel, where the chef / owner was recently awarded the &quot;Rising Chef&quot; award by Relais &amp; Chateaux.  BD</description>
  <overnight>Hostellerie Le Phébus – Joucas, France</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="4">
  <title>Bories, Abbeys &amp; Boules</title>
  <description>A little morning exercise can warm you up for more adventures among the chalk cliffs, fairy tale villages, meadows and moorlands of the Luberon. In a nearby village, pick up the makings of a traditional picnic lunch – perhaps a baguette, fruits and meats, cheese, olives and, naturellement, wine… whatever tempts your palate! Today you&apos;ll take a walk to the beautiful Abbaye de Sananque; your path is a treat for the senses. Rich with color, chalk and red ochre cliffs, cedar forests, taupe moorlands and river hewn gorges surround. No matter what time you visit, during lavender season or not, your imagination can picture it in full bloom in the meadows surrounding the 900-year-old Abbaye de Senanque, still home to Cistercian monks. Picnic in a Provençal meadow, then return to Joucas. Spend an afternoon hiking, biking, riding or what-have-you (there is an exquisite spa, pool, gardens) in Joucas; and learn to play a game of boules, a Provence tradition.</description>
  <overnight>Hostellerie Le Phébus – Joucas, France</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="5">
  <title>Kayaking on the Sorgue &amp; on to Arles and St. Rémy</title>
  <description>After bubbling away deep beneath the hills of Provence, the most powerful spring in France bursts forth at nearly 20,000 gallons per second to feed the mysterious Sorgue River. Climb aboard a kayak and paddle along this picturesque waterway from Fontaine-de-Vaucluse to L’Isle-sur-la-Sorgue... and check out the waterwheels! The Romans felt it. So did the builders of its Romanesque churches… and artists from van Gogh to Picasso, who particularly loved the pubs. And so will you – strolling its boulevards and leafy squares… lunching in one of its charming cafés… people-watching within a city of contrasts. Arrive late afternoon in St-Rémy-de-Provence and a fantastic boutique hotel. Tonight you&apos;ll discover the allure of “pub crawling” – not the tourist places, but the pubs where the locals go.</description>
  <overnight>Hostellerie du Vallon de Valrugues – St-Rémy-de-Provence,</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="6">
  <title>What’s Cooking in Avignon</title>
  <description>On market day in Avignon, partake in the process of bringing great Provençal food from the market to the plate. Join a chef on a buying trip to an Avignon market – smelling, tasting, and feeling your way through the fresh produce, breads, meats and cheeses. Learn the chef’s kitchen secrets firsthand as you help prepare a traditional meal in a hands-on cooking lesson. And after a professional sommelier guides you through a tasting of fine Rhone wines, it’s time to eat… drink… and be very merry. For much of the 14th century, the Roman Catholic popes ruled from Avignon. Take an insider’s look at the ten-towered Palais des Papes, more fortress than palace – or if you wish, explore lovely Avignon on your own. You&apos;ll have free time today to spend as you wish. A bicycle ride? A walk? A long afternoon drink in a café? In St. Rémy, after-dinner drinks often lead to lively discussions on every topic under the Provençal sun...</description>
  <overnight>Hostellerie du Vallon de Valrugues – St-Rémy-de-Provence,</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="7">
  <title>Van Gogh’s Footsteps in Provence</title>
  <description>Art and beauty are one... shared with the world by Vincent van Gogh, whose work personified the region’s extraordinary light. Visit the asylum of Saint-Paul-de-Mausole in St-Rémy-de-Provence, where van Gogh created over 150 works including Starry Night. Glimpse inside the artist’s mind as van Gogh scholar Mathilde Duvilliers shares insights on his complicated life, and reads from his letters, while you walk in his footsteps. Sample the fruits of the vineyards at a tasting at Chateau d’Estoublon. The setting is enchanting – Rhone wines are among the finest in France, and with olive oils, tapenades, olives and fresh-baked bread, you will also be enchanté! High atop a rocky outcrop lies the dramatic fortress of Les Baux-de-Provence; take a trip back to the 10th century... Celebrate the flavors of Provence with cocktails, canapés and a spectacular dinner of local specialties... a perfect finis to Provence travel days!</description>
  <overnight>Hostellerie du Vallon de Valrugues – St-Rémy-de-Provence,</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="8">
  <title>Au revoir, Provence…</title>
  <description>Tour ends: Marseille. A transfer will be provided from Hostellerie du Vallon de Valrugues. The warm, inviting colors… sun-kissed meadows… those amazing Provençal flavors… intangible sensory imagery that linger not only on the return to Marseille and on your flight home… but far beyond…</description>
  <overnight></overnight>
  <meals></meals>
</itineraryDay>
  </itineraryDetails>
  <highlights></highlights>
  <tauckValues>
    <value order="1">Hike from medieval Gordes to Roussillon in the Lubéron</value><value order="2">Kayak down the mysterious Sorgue River</value><value order="3">Go to a market in Avignon to select fresh ingredients for a chef-hosted cooking class</value><value order="4">Sample locally produced wines and olive oil at a private working country château</value><value order="5">Learn the finer points of wine tasting with a local sommelier</value><value order="6">See Vincent van Gogh through the eyes of a learned scholar</value><value order="7">Play a traditional game of boules</value><value order="8">Pub crawl in St-Rémy-de-Provence</value><value order="9">Picnic in a tranquil meadow at Abbaye de Sananque</value><value order="10">Parlez-vous Français? You will, following a French lesson</value>
  </tauckValues>  
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    <date>
    <day>24</day>
    <month>10</month>
    <year>2010</year>
    <singlesPrice>4298</singlesPrice>
    <doublesPrice>3490</doublesPrice>
    <triplesPrice>0</triplesPrice>
    <quadsPrice>0</quadsPrice>
    
  </date>

</departureDates>

</tour><tour>
  <sourceId>VJ2010</sourceId>
  <title>Costa Rica</title>
  <summary>
    <![CDATA[
		

You&apos;re Culturious… 
from its rainforests to its cloud forests, you hike… paddle… kayak… dance… taste… learn… laugh… while Costa Rica captures your Culturious heart. 
]]>
  </summary>
  <description>
    <![CDATA[Naturally inspiring, Costa Rica is all about adventure, whether it is during guided hikes into a wildlife-rich jungle or dancing barefoot on the beach, margaritas in hand, to the lively beat of Costa Rican music. There are wonders to behold at every turn – emerald filled craters that camouflage lunar landscapes, cloud forests that kiss the skies with canopied treetops, plantations ripe with sugar cane, coffee beans and decadent macadamia nuts… beaches that flirt with azure seas… and mangrove forests that welcome brilliantly colored tropical birds of all sizes and plumage. And there are lots of equally wonderful ways to experience them with Culturious… zip-lining, rafting, horseback riding, cruising... 2010 pricing starts at US $2,490 per person double. Maximum group size is 16.
]]>
  </description>
  <link>http://culturious.com/costarica/</link>
  <durationDays>8</durationDays>
  <durationDetails>8 days and 7 nights.</durationDetails>
  <tripType>ESCORTED_TOUR</tripType>
  <brand>Culturious</brand>
  <subbrand>None</subbrand>
  <gradeRating>ALL_AGES</gradeRating>
  <comfortRating>COMFORTABLE_MIXED</comfortRating>
  <startingLocation>San Jose</startingLocation>
  <prices>
    <price currency="USD">2490</price>
    <priceDetails><![CDATA[All prices are per person in U.S. dollars. ]]></priceDetails>
  </prices>
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  <itinerary>
    <![CDATA[Naturally inspiring, Costa Rica is all about adventure, whether it is during guided hikes into a wildlife-rich jungle or dancing barefoot on the beach, margaritas in hand, to the lively beat of Costa Rican music. There are wonders to behold at every turn – emerald filled craters that camouflage lunar landscapes, cloud forests that kiss the skies with canopied treetops, plantations ripe with sugar cane, coffee beans and decadent macadamia nuts… beaches that flirt with azure seas… and mangrove forests that welcome brilliantly colored tropical birds of all sizes and plumage. And there are lots of equally wonderful ways to experience them with Culturious… zip-lining, rafting, horseback riding, cruising... 2010 pricing starts at US $2,490 per person double. Maximum group size is 16. 

1. Hola San José
Tour begins: San José. Touch down in San José, gateway to a treasure trove of riches, past and present. Meet your Culturious representative at the airport for a transfer to the Alta Hotel, the height of scenic luxury in an intimate mountainside hotel, where the views of the valley and sea go on forever. History calls this afternoon on a guided walking tour through the colonial city. Go for Baroque at the architecturally resplendent Teatro Nacional. Gaze at the ancient artifacts of the Museo del Oro, glittering in gold, and step back in time in the Barrio Amon, heart of the historic homes of the city. It’s fiesta time tonight at our welcome dinner, enticing with a taste of Latin American fare. Buenas noches! Meals D
 
2. From the jungle to the sea
It’s up early for a drive into Costa Rica’s forested landscapes as resident wildlife wakes up to a new day in the tropics. Your naturalist guide leads you on a hike through a private natural reserve that showcases the two different ecosystems that thrive here. Exotic animal sightings may include wild pigs, anteaters, monkeys and the elusive jaguar. Your expedition continues on a cruise across the Gulf of Nicoya, home to your beachfront resort, where memories of the popular TV show “Temptation Island” come to life as the show was actually filmed here. Acclimate to paradise with a pisco sour and a Spanish lesson. Meals BLD

3. Horseback riding on the beach
Everywhere you look, nature beckons. Experience it on a morning horseback ride into the hillsides and along the beach with a genuine vaquero who shares his views on life in the saddle. Savor it on a picnic, serenaded by the sounds of the Pacific Ocean surf or enjoy it at the spa, where you will truly feel transformed. The choice is yours and the options for Culturious fun are endless! Meals BD

4. Kayak cruise into the mangrove forests
Early risers catch the best birds here in Costa Rica, so if you’re game, join us for bird watching this morning before breakfast. Meet your Culturious compadres for a kayak cruise down a lazy river into the wildlife-rich mangrove forests, alive with a chorus of tropical bird songs, before spending the rest of the day pursuing your own flights of fancy. If golf is your passion, play a round or two during your stay; fishermen and boaters may want to head out to the sea on a sailing, snorkeling, deep-sea fishing or diving expedition; or take time out for a good book as you relax on the sun-kissed beach. Tonight kick off your shoes and feel the sand in your toes at a beach party that pulses with the beat of Costa Rican life and delights with some of the best margaritas you&apos;ve ever tasted. Meals BD

5. The height of discovery at Irazú
A private morning flight speeds you back to San José for a hike atop lunar landscapes in nearby Irazú Volcano National Park, home to Costa Rica’s highest volcano. Wait until you see the views from here – panoramic vistas of the valley and emerald-green crater lake are a feast for the soul. Paradise calls again from another gracious Culturious resort. Understated and low key to blend right in with the tropically elegant environment, your home for the next three nights at Casa Turire is tranquility perfected! Meals BLD

6. Challenge your boundaries on a river trip
Join us in an optional morning exercise class – a great way to prepare for today’s 3-hour whitewater rafting adventure on the Pacuare River! Be as active as you wish this afternoon, indulging in a massage, a boat ride on the lake or venturing out on a hacienda experience at a local plantation. Learn about the agricultural techniques of a century ago, then take a tasting tour of the fields with local workers who still manually harvest the coffee, sugar cane and macadamia nuts that are grown here. If you’re still Culturious about local life, visit the highlands village of Turialba, a center for woodcrafts and furniture making, to watch the artisans at work. Meals BLD

7.  Zip-lining through a jungle canopy
Take an early morning walk to spot the toucans, orioles and parakeets that make their homes here on the resort. Then it’s up, up and away on a zip-lining flight through treetop canopies for a bird’s-eye view of nearby cloud forests. Take off from twelve sky-high platforms connected by zip-lines and if you’re really adventurous, experience two controlled rappelling drops for added thrills. This afternoon is yours to enjoy as you wish. Your Tauck Director can help you with arrangements for kayaking, biking or horseback riding. Or, head for the pool, whirlpool or lake for waterside pleasures. The Hacienda Tayutic is the perfect setting for our farewell festivities this evening, a showcase of breathtaking views and garden delights. Meals BLD

8. Hasta luego Costa Rica
Tour ends: San José. A transfer from the hotel to the airport is included for your return flight home and you can fly home anytime today. The extra-Culturious may choose to stay on in San José; ask us about extending your stay! Meals B
]]>
  </itinerary>
  <itineraryDetails>
    <itineraryDay day="1">
  <title>Hola San Jos&amp;#233;</title>
  <description>Tour begins: San Jos&amp;#233;.  Touch down in San Jos&amp;#233;, gateway to a treasure trove of riches, past and present.  Meet your Culturious representative at the airport for a transfer to the Alta Hotel, the height of scenic luxury in an intimate mountainside hotel, where the views of the valley and sea go on forever.  History calls this afternoon on a guided walking tour through the colonial city.  Go for Baroque at the architecturally resplendent Teatro Nacional.  Gaze at the ancient artifacts of the Museo del Oro, glittering in gold, and step back in time in the Barrio Amon, heart of the historic homes of the city.  It&apos;s fiesta time tonight at our welcome dinner, enticing with a taste of Latin American fare.  Buenas noches! Meals D</description>
  <overnight>The Alta Hotel – San José, Costa Rica</overnight>
  <meals>Dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="2">
  <title>From the jungle to the sea</title>
  <description>It&apos;s up early for a drive into Costa Rica&apos;s forested landscapes as resident wildlife wakes up to a new day in the tropics.  Your naturalist guide leads you on a hike through a private natural reserve that showcases the two different ecosystems that thrive here.  Exotic animal sightings may include wild pigs, anteaters, monkeys and the elusive jaguar.  Your expedition continues on a cruise across the Gulf of Nicoya, home to your beachfront resort, where memories of the popular TV show “Temptation Island” come to life as the show was actually filmed here.  Acclimate to paradise with a pisco sour and a Spanish lesson.  Meals BLD</description>
  <overnight>Tango Mar – Tambor, Costa Rica</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="3">
  <title>Horseback riding on the beach</title>
  <description>Everywhere you look, nature beckons.  Experience it on a morning horseback ride into the hillsides and along the beach with a genuine vaquero who shares his views on life in the saddle.  Savor it on a picnic, serenaded by the sounds of the Pacific Ocean surf or enjoy it at the spa, where you will truly feel transformed.  The choice is yours and the options for Culturious fun are endless! Meals BD</description>
  <overnight>Tango Mar – Tambor, Costa Rica</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, Dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="4">
  <title>Kayak cruise into the mangrove forests</title>
  <description>Early risers catch the best birds here in Costa Rica, so if you&apos;re game, join us for bird watching this morning before breakfast.  Meet your Culturious compadres for a kayak cruise down a lazy river into the wildlife&amp;#45;rich mangrove forests, alive with a chorus of tropical bird songs, before spending the rest of the day pursuing your own flights of fancy.  If golf is your passion, play a round or two during your stay; fishermen and boaters may want to head out to the sea on a sailing, snorkeling, deep&amp;#45;sea fishing or diving expedition; or take time out for a good book as you relax on the sun&amp;#45;kissed beach.  Tonight kick off your shoes and feel the sand in your toes at a beach party that pulses with the beat of Costa Rican life and delights with some of the best margaritas you&apos;ve ever tasted.  Meals BD</description>
  <overnight>Tango Mar – Tambor, Costa Rica</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, Dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="5">
  <title>The height of discovery at Iraz&amp;#240;</title>
  <description>A private morning flight speeds you back to San Jos&amp;#233; for a hike atop lunar landscapes in nearby Iraz&amp;#240; Volcano National Park, home to Costa Rica&apos;s highest volcano.  Wait until you see the views from here &amp;#45; panoramic vistas of the valley and emerald&amp;#45;green crater lake are a feast for the soul.  Paradise calls again from another gracious Culturious resort.  Understated and low key to blend right in with the tropically elegant environment, your home for the next three nights at Casa Turire is tranquility perfected! Meals BLD</description>
  <overnight>Casa Turire – Turialba, Costa Rica</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="6">
  <title>Challenge your boundaries on a river trip</title>
  <description>Join us in an optional morning exercise class &amp;#45; a great way to prepare for today&apos;s 3&amp;#45;hour whitewater rafting adventure on the Pacuare River! Be as active as you wish this afternoon, indulging in a massage, a boat ride on the lake or venturing out on a hacienda experience at a local plantation.  Learn about the agricultural techniques of a century ago, then take a tasting tour of the fields with local workers who still manually harvest the coffee, sugar cane and macadamia nuts that are grown here.  If you&apos;re still Culturious about local life, visit the highlands village of Turialba, a center for woodcrafts and furniture making, to watch the artisans at work.  Meals BLD</description>
  <overnight>Casa Turire – Turialba, Costa Rica</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="7">
  <title>Zip&amp;#45;lining through a jungle canopy</title>
  <description>Take an early morning walk to spot the toucans, orioles and parakeets that make their homes here on the resort.  Then it&apos;s up, up and away on a zip&amp;#45;lining flight through treetop canopies for a bird&apos;s&amp;#45;eye view of nearby cloud forests.  Take off from twelve sky&amp;#45;high platforms connected by zip&amp;#45;lines and if you&apos;re really adventurous, experience two controlled rappelling drops for added thrills.  This afternoon is yours to enjoy as you wish.  Your Tauck Director can help you with arrangements for kayaking, biking or horseback riding.  Or, head for the pool, whirlpool or lake for waterside pleasures.  The Hacienda Tayutic is the perfect setting for our farewell festivities this evening, a showcase of breathtaking views and garden delights.  Meals BLD</description>
  <overnight>Casa Turire – Turialba, Costa Rica</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="8">
  <title>Hasta luego Costa Rica</title>
  <description>Tour ends: San José. A transfer from the hotel to the airport is included for your return flight home and you can fly home anytime today. The extra-Culturious may choose to stay on in San José; ask us about extending your stay!</description>
  <overnight></overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast</meals>
</itineraryDay>
  </itineraryDetails>
  <highlights></highlights>
  <tauckValues>
    <value order="1">Explore volcanic landscapes blanketed in scenic splendor</value><value order="2">Learn to habla Español</value><value order="3">Go horseback riding into the country and tour a local farm</value><value order="4">Visit a highlands village known for its woodcrafts</value><value order="5">Raft on Class II whitewater rapids on the Rio Pacure</value><value order="6">Kayak in an oceanfront reserve</value><value order="7">Dine on a country–fresh lunch at a farmhouse restaurant</value><value order="8">Zip-line through a cloud forest</value><value order="9">Look for exotic wildlife on a guided nature hike that explores two different ecosystems in one forested jungle reserve</value><value order="10">Walk back in time in San Jose</value>
  </tauckValues>  
  <departureDates>
    <date>
    <day>23</day>
    <month>8</month>
    <year>2010</year>
    <singlesPrice>2917</singlesPrice>
    <doublesPrice>2490</doublesPrice>
    <triplesPrice>2399</triplesPrice>
    <quadsPrice>0</quadsPrice>
    
  </date>
  <date>
    <day>6</day>
    <month>12</month>
    <year>2010</year>
    <singlesPrice>2917</singlesPrice>
    <doublesPrice>2490</doublesPrice>
    <triplesPrice>2399</triplesPrice>
    <quadsPrice>0</quadsPrice>
    
  </date>
  <date>
    <day>13</day>
    <month>12</month>
    <year>2010</year>
    <singlesPrice>2917</singlesPrice>
    <doublesPrice>2490</doublesPrice>
    <triplesPrice>2399</triplesPrice>
    <quadsPrice>0</quadsPrice>
    
  </date>

</departureDates>

</tour><tour>
  <sourceId>VM2010</sourceId>
  <title>Manitoba: Polar Bear Adventure</title>
  <summary>
    <![CDATA[Discover Manitoba&apos;s early fur-trading history, attend a dog sledding demonstration, spot Arctic wildlife on a hike with an expert naturalist, and get an amazing insider&apos;s view of polar bears in their natural habitat on Tauck&apos;s extraordinary Manitoba vacation.
]]>
  </summary>
  <description>
    <![CDATA[New for 2010, join Tauck on an adventurous Manitoba vacation featuring the polar bears of Churchill for a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to observe these magnificent, endangered animals up close! And, Manitoba offers so much more than just polar bears... the rich human and natural history of this Canadian province, as well as its scenic beauty, have been engaging and enriching visitors for decades. Discover marvelous Manitoba during a special private evening with the Hudson’s Bay Company of Adventurers at the Manitoba Museum… at a dog sledding demonstration… during a visit to the Lower Fort Garry National Historic site with North America’s oldest existing stone fur-trading post… exploring the natural beauty surrounding Manitoba’s #1 four-season resort on Hecla Island… and so much more.
]]>
  </description>
  <link>http://www.tauck.com/tours/canada-tours/western-canada-tours/manitoba-vacation-vm-2010</link>
  <durationDays>7</durationDays>
  <durationDetails>7 days and 6 nights.</durationDetails>
  <tripType>ESCORTED_TOUR</tripType>
  <brand>TWD</brand>
  <subbrand>USA and Canada</subbrand>
  <gradeRating>ALL_AGES</gradeRating>
  <comfortRating>COMFORTABLE_MIXED</comfortRating>
  <startingLocation>Winnipeg</startingLocation>
  <prices>
    <price currency="USD">5190</price>
    <priceDetails><![CDATA[All prices are per person in U.S. dollars. ]]></priceDetails>
  </prices>
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    <![CDATA[]]>
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    <itineraryDay day="1">
  <title>Arrive Winnipeg</title>
  <description>Tour begins: 3:00 PM at Inn at the Forks. Transfers are included from Winnipeg Airport to the Inn at the Forks. A sightseeing tour introduces you to the “Gateway of the West,” followed by a special evening with the Hudson Bay Company of Adventurers. Attend a private cocktail party and welcome dinner at the Manitoba Museum, showcasing a replica of the historic trading ship, Nonsuch.</description>
  <overnight>Inn at the Forks, Winnipeg, Manitoba</overnight>
  <meals>Dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="2">
  <title>Cultural Heritage in Churchill</title>
  <description>Tauck’s private charter flight brings you to Churchill, the “Polar Bear Capital of the World,” accessible only by plane or train. A guided cultural heritage tour includes the village of Churchill and is followed by a storytelling session with a local Metis elder, a lifelong resident. Enjoy a fireside chat with the owner of the Lazy Bear Lodge, who shares insights about the unique lifestyles of the two-footed and four-footed friends you will meet here.</description>
  <overnight>Lazy Bear Lodge, Churchill, Manitoba</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="3">
  <title>The Polar Bears of Churchill</title>
  <description>Each autumn groups of polar bears migrate from inland locations to Manitoba’s Hudson Bay shores for their annual seal-hunting season – they are now under careful watch by environmentalists as global warming threatens their natural habitats. An all-day excursion aboard a specially designed tundra vehicle takes you into the heart of polar bear country accompanied by a naturalist guide. Experience unrestricted views of the bears up close as your expert guide offers an insider’s perspective on the concerns and conservation efforts that are taking place on their behalf.</description>
  <overnight>Lazy Bear Lodge, Churchill, Manitoba</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="4">
  <title>Dog Sledding / Fly to Hecla Island</title>
  <description>Attend a dog sledding demonstration this morning to learn about the sport of sled racing, a popular pastime in this arctic community. Your private charter plane takes off for a 2-hour flight south to Hecla Island in Lake Winnipeg mid-day. Your island accommodation for the next two nights is renowned as Manitoba’s #1 four-seasons resort, with abundant recreational diversions and award-winning cuisine. Upon arrival, enjoy a glass of wine with a local naturalist who discusses the region’s boreal forest and island environs. Dinner is at leisure.</description>
  <overnight>Radisson Hecla Oasis Resort, Hecla Island, Manitoba</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="5">
  <title>Natural Delights on Hecla Island</title>
  <description>Join a local naturalist for a hike through the island’s forests, fields and marshes to spot area wildlife; the remainder of the day is free for a wide variety of outdoor adventures and pampering treatments in the spa.</description>
  <overnight>Radisson Hecla Oasis Resort, Hecla Island, Manitoba</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="6">
  <title>Lower Fort Garry / Winnipeg</title>
  <description>Visit the oldest stone fur trading post still intact in North America, Lower Fort Garry National Historic Site. Meet interpreters as you explore the “Big House” (Governor’s home), residents’ cottages and the fur trading post. Return to Winnipeg for a farewell dinner.</description>
  <overnight>Inn at the Forks, Winnipeg, Manitoba</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="7">
  <title>Journey Home</title>
  <description>Tour ends: Winnipeg. Fly home anytime. A transfer is included from the Inn at the Forks to Winnipeg Airport. Allow a minimum of 2 hours for flight check-in.</description>
  <overnight></overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast</meals>
</itineraryDay>
  </itineraryDetails>
  <highlights></highlights>
  <tauckValues>
    <value order="1">Full-day excursion in polar bear country with a naturalist guide aboard a specially designed tundra vehicle</value><value order="2">Cocktails and dinner at the Manitoba Museum, home to a replica of the historic 17th-century ship, Nonsuch</value><value order="3">Private charter flights to Churchill and Hecla Island</value><value order="4">Spend two nights at a cozy lodge in Churchill</value><value order="5">Dog sledding demonstration to learn about the popular sport</value><value order="6">Tour the Lower Fort Garry National Historic Site in St. Andrews, North Americas oldest intact fur trading post</value><value order="7">A nature talk and guided hike with an expert naturalist during a two-night stay on Hecla Island</value><value order="8">Airport transfers upon arrival and departure as noted</value><value order="9">16 meals, service charges, gratuities to local guides, admission fees, taxes and porterage</value>
  </tauckValues>  
  <departureDates>
    <date>
    <day>2</day>
    <month>11</month>
    <year>2010</year>
    <singlesPrice>6900</singlesPrice>
    <doublesPrice>5190</doublesPrice>
    <triplesPrice>4818</triplesPrice>
    <quadsPrice>0</quadsPrice>
    
  </date>

</departureDates>

</tour><tour>
  <sourceId>VN2010</sourceId>
  <title>South Africa &amp; Namibia</title>
  <summary>
    <![CDATA[Sampling the fruits of the Winelands... climbing a towering sand dune
in the world&apos;s oldest desert... spotting lions and rhinos in a private
reserve... South Africa and Namibia are all this and more.]]>
  </summary>
  <description>
    <![CDATA[Hiking to Africa&apos;s southern tip and looking back from the “edge of the world”... kayaking with flamingoes, African penguins, and seals close enough to touch... wandering among relics of Cape Town’s Dutch Colonial past... flying over Namibia’s Skeleton Coast... learning a little Afrikaans... gazing at 10,000-year-old rock art...  biking through the Winelands... exploring a South African township with a local guide with his own tales of apartheid to tell... encountering lions, springbok, zebra and rare rhinos on game drives in Land Rovers... climbing a 1,000-foot-high sand dune... sipping sundowners against the African sunsets... staying at Travel + Leisure&apos;s 2009 &quot;World&apos;s Best Hotel&quot; and at the &quot;Top City Hotel in Africa.&quot; 2010 pricing starts at US $5,690 per person double.  Maximum group size is 16.
]]>
  </description>
  <link>http://culturious.com/southafrica/</link>
  <durationDays>12</durationDays>
  <durationDetails>12 days and 11 nights.</durationDetails>
  <tripType>ESCORTED_TOUR</tripType>
  <brand>Culturious</brand>
  <subbrand>Exotics</subbrand>
  <gradeRating>ALL_AGES</gradeRating>
  <comfortRating>COMFORTABLE_MIXED</comfortRating>
  <startingLocation>Cape Town, RSA</startingLocation>
  <prices>
    <price currency="USD">5690</price>
    <priceDetails><![CDATA[All prices are per person in U.S. dollars. ]]></priceDetails>
  </prices>
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    <image>http://tools.tauck.com/Files/ItineraryImages/altImages/VN2010_alt2.jpg</image>
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  </images>
  <itinerary>
    <![CDATA[Hiking to Africa&apos;s southern tip and looking back from the “edge of the world”... kayaking with flamingoes, African penguins, and seals close enough to touch... wandering among relics of Cape Town’s Dutch Colonial past... flying over Namibia’s Skeleton Coast... learning a little Afrikaans... gazing at 10,000-year-old rock art...  biking through the Winelands... exploring a South African township with a local guide with his own tales of apartheid to tell... encountering lions, springbok, zebra and rare rhinos on game drives in Land Rovers... climbing a 1,000-foot-high sand dune... sipping sundowners against the African sunsets... staying at Travel + Leisure&apos;s 2009 &quot;World&apos;s Best Hotel&quot; and at the &quot;Top City Hotel in Africa.&quot; 2010 pricing starts at US $5,690 per person double.  Maximum group size is 16. 

1. A city on the sea
Tour begins: Cape Town, South Africa. Transfers are provided from the Cape Town Airport to the Twelve Apostles Hotel and Spa. At a place where earth, sea and sky collide, dramatic mountains thrust upward, cradling a city of 3 million. And there sits Cape Town, like a gatekeeper welcoming you to the African continent. Look around in wonder at Table Mountain, the Twelve Apostles, Lion’s Head and Signal Hill – then at the bustling metropolis lying in their shadow, in what locals call the City Bowl. Walk through vestiges of Cape Town’s original 17th-century Dutch settlement – the Castle of Good Hope, the Company’s Gardens, Greenmarket Square, and a cultural history museum in what were once slaves’ quarters. At your oceanfront hotel, a glimpse of your first – and unforgettable – Cape sunset confirms what you’ve been thinking all along… that there really isn’t another place like this on earth. Meals D
 
2. At the “edge of the world”
Venturing along the stunning Cape Peninsula, stop for coffee and poke around at Simon’s Town on False Bay, salty from centuries of service as a naval base. Hop into a sea kayak and paddle along Boulders Beach, waving hello to the rare African penguins residing here. Passing through the nature reserve at the Cape of Good Hope, a farmhouse lunch fortifies you for a walk to the very tip of the peninsula – and of Africa itself – Cape Point, known popularly as the meeting point of the Atlantic and Indian oceans. Smell the protea, cyads, pincushions and other gorgeous Cape flora… ascend to the lookout point and gaze back – you’re at the edge of the world! Learn some Afrikaans and Xhosa, and relax and savor the day at a traditional braai barbecue… aahh… Meals BLD

3. Into the wilderness… with a flair
From a seaside paradise at land’s end, travel past citrus groves and cattle farms and through the Cederberg Mountains to a private piece of heaven in the South African bush. At the private Bushmans Kloof Wilderness Reserve, a staff of over 100 stands ready to treat you royally. Ever had a personal Ranger at your disposal? Well, you do now… and he’ll escort you on your wilderness adventures. Watch for some of the reserve’s 140-odd bird species on a hike. Indulge in afternoon tea. At the perfect time of day, head out on a game drive in an open Land Rover to spot springbok, bontebok, gemsbok, hartebeest and Cape zebra bounding across the grasslands. The landscapes are beautiful, the wildlife thrilling, and the “sundowner” cocktails inviting... Meals BLTD

4. Time stops at Bushmans Kloof
Although the local San tribesmen whose ancient ancestors created them vanished from the Cederberg Mountain wilderness over a century ago, the spectacular rock paintings of Bushmans Kloof – now protected by the World Heritage Foundation – live on. About 130 of them… some around 10,000 years old… can be found within the reserve. Avoid the midday heat with an early morning start and explore several of them by Land Rover with your personal ranger, who shares some of their mysteries. Afterward, do as you please… canoeing, hiking, biking, bird-watching, whatever… then, afternoon tea with fresh pastries and cakes… a late-afternoon game drive – followed by a sundowner, of course… and a special dinner under the stars. Just another day in paradise... Meals BTD

5. A day in the Townships
En route from the Cederberg wilderness to the Winelands, get an insider’s view of the struggles of South Africa’s black population during the years of apartheid in the Townships – where blacks were forced to live a bleak existence, most in dire poverty. Visiting Langa Township, you’ll walk the streets… visit a private home… and meet current residents with your local guide, Lizo &quot;MC&quot; Mgobozi, who recounts a highly personal tale of the hardships and challenges he and other Langa residents faced during that tragic time, and of how they’re creating a brighter future. Then it’s on to the lush Cape Winelands and Stellenbosch – the country’s second-oldest city after Cape Town – for two memorable nights at South Africa’s oldest operating inn. Meals BLD

6. Oh, the Winelands!
A day in and around Stellenbosch means pedaling past sun-kissed vineyards on a morning bicycle trek through the idyllic countryside of South Africa’s most celebrated wine district… sampling local artisan cheese, tasty dried fruits and – naturally – excellent local wine on a roadside picnic … visiting a historic Stellenbosch winery for a tasting… and gaining insights on South African politics at a local lecture. Not to mention some of the things you might choose to do on your own, like searching the region’s lovely boutiques for that perfect piece of African art or jewelry… stopping for a meal in a charming café or bistro… going for a hike or a trail ride. Whatever your passion, it all makes for a pretty amazing day in the Winelands! Meals B

7.  A desert full of life
Traveling from one remarkable world to another is a Culturious hallmark... becoming an early-bird in more ways than one, rise and shine for a very early flight from Cape Town to the desert wonderland of Namibia.  Fly via Windhoek, the capital, to Sossusvlei in Namib-Naukluft Park, within the amazing Sand Dune Sea that blankets much of the western part of the country. In the midst of this red sea of sand, Kulala Desert Lodge is a little slice of luxury in Kulala Wilderness Reserve. Listen to a lecture on Namibia’s struggle for independence... take afternoon tea... hop into a Land Rover for a nature drive to spot oryx, kudu, ostriches and springbok... and sip a sundowner as the blazing sun sets over the oldest desert on earth! Meals BLTD

8.  Sand, sand everywhere…
Sand... lots and lots of it. Look up... look down... look all around. It’s everywhere (the Sand Dune Sea stretches out over 12,000 square miles)... it’s millions of years old... it’s otherworldly beautiful... and it’s all yours! Venture out to the dunes and, if you choose to, climb these skyscraper-high mountains of sand, which change their shape with the shifting desert winds, and their colors with the changing light. Climb Big Daddy, rising about a thousand feet... walk through the ominously named but lovely Dead Vlei, whose apricot-colored dunes teem with wildlife and small lakes... embark on a game drive... and enjoy tea and sundowners, of course. Another unforgettable day... Meals BLTD

9.  Along the Skeleton Coast
Feast your senses on more incredible sands and seas... an optional early hot air balloon flight (available for an additional $499 per person) offers a bird’s-eye view of the dunes. Then fly over what Portuguese sailors called As Areias do Inferno (The Sands of Hell). We know it as the Skeleton Coast... an endless, forbidding stretch of beach that for centuries has been a graveyard for ships like the Eduard Bohlen; it ran aground in 1909 but now lies buried in dunes a half-mile inland! Wave to thousands of seals en route to Swakopmund – a 19th-century German colonial outpost-turned-resort that many call “more German than Germany.” Check out the village... have a traditional lunch... and relax at a luxury hotel that’s hosted celebrities as diverse as Eartha Kitt and Aristotle Onassis. Meals BL

10.  Of seals, seabirds… and rhinos
Express your adventurous nature by setting off to Walvis Bay for nature adventures... first by 4x4 vehicle along a seemingly endless spit of sand and past enormous salt pans to Pelican Point, boasting more seals and shore birds than anyplace on earth... then by sea kayak, paddling across calm waters to visit the denizens of the bay – flocks of pelicans, cormorants and flamingoes... and throngs of seals who’ll be so close you could almost touch them! On via air to Etosha National Park and the adjacent Ongava Reserve, a private piece of wilderness that’s home to both the endangered black and white rhino. Learn about the reserve’s mission from its director, and watch the wildlife outside your brick, rock and thatch chalet... heaven. Meals BD

11.  Lions and rhinos and more
Astonishing... it’s not an inappropriate word for the quantity and diversity of wildlife you’ll encounter as you hop aboard Land Rovers for game drives in both Etosha National Park and Ongava Reserve. Lions... cheetahs... gemsbok... zebras... giraffes... kudu... wildebeest... springbok... hartebeest... and the rare black and white rhinocerous, protected by the reserve’s own unique rhino rescue program. All playing the game of life right there in front you... making your heart race – and your camera click – with excitement. Then relaxing in your air-conditioned chalet... sipping a sundowner against the backdrop of one more African sunset... digging into a sumptuous farewell dinner under the stars... could you ever forget even a single moment? Meals BLD

12. Homeward bound
Tour ends: Windhoek, Namibia. Your Culturious trip to one of the most exciting and intriguing corners of the world is over today... but those memories will definitely linger on. After a final taste of Namibia at breakfast at Ongava Lodge, it’s  a short hop by air to Windhoek, then a transfer overland is included to Windhoek International Airport in time for your flight back home; you can fly home any time today. And if you’d like to extend your time in Namibia, we can arrange a stay at the Olive Grove Hotel in the heart of Windhoek. Meals B

Note: On days in the itinerary where “T” is indicated among the meals, afternoon tea will be served. 
]]>
  </itinerary>
  <itineraryDetails>
    <itineraryDay day="1">
  <title>A city on the sea</title>
  <description>Tour begins: Cape Town, South Africa. Transfers are provided from the Cape Town Airport to the Twelve Apostles Hotel and Spa. At a place where earth, sea and sky collide, dramatic mountains thrust upward, cradling a city of 3 million. And there sits Cape Town, like a gatekeeper welcoming you to the African continent. Look around in wonder at Table Mountain, the Twelve Apostles, Lion’s Head and Signal Hill – then at the bustling metropolis lying in their shadow, in what locals call the City Bowl. Walk through vestiges of Cape Town’s original 17th-century Dutch settlement – the Castle of Good Hope, the Company’s Gardens, Greenmarket Square, and a cultural history museum in what were once slaves’ quarters. At your oceanfront hotel, a glimpse of your first – and unforgettable – Cape sunset confirms what you’ve been thinking all along… that there really isn’t another place like this on earth.</description>
  <overnight>The Twelve Apostles Hotel and Spa – Cape Town, South Africa</overnight>
  <meals>Dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="2">
  <title>At the “edge of the world”</title>
  <description>Venturing along the stunning Cape Peninsula, stop for coffee and poke around at Simon’s Town on False Bay, salty from centuries of service as a naval base. Hop into a sea kayak and paddle along Boulders Beach, waving hello to the rare African penguins residing here. Passing through the nature reserve at the Cape of Good Hope, a farmhouse lunch fortifies you for a walk to the very tip of the peninsula – and of Africa itself – Cape Point, known popularly as the meeting point of the Atlantic and Indian oceans. Smell the protea, cyads, pincushions and other gorgeous Cape flora… ascend to the lookout point and gaze back – you’re at the edge of the world! Learn some Afrikaans and Xhosa, and relax and savor the day at a traditional braai barbecue… aahh…</description>
  <overnight>The Twelve Apostles Hotel and Spa – Cape Town, South Africa</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="3">
  <title>Into the wilderness… with a flair</title>
  <description>From a seaside paradise at land’s end, travel past citrus groves and cattle farms and through the Cederberg Mountains to a private piece of heaven in the South African bush. At the private Bushmans Kloof Wilderness Reserve, a staff of over 100 stands ready to treat you royally. Ever had a personal Ranger at your disposal? Well, you do now… and he’ll escort you on your wilderness adventures. Watch for some of the reserve’s 140-odd bird species on a hike. Indulge in afternoon tea. At the perfect time of day, head out on a game drive in an open Land Rover to spot springbok, bontebok, gemsbok, hartebeest and Cape zebra bounding across the grasslands. The landscapes are beautiful, the wildlife thrilling, and the “sundowner” cocktails inviting...</description>
  <overnight>Bushmans Kloof Wilderness Reserve – South Africa</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, tea, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="4">
  <title>Time stops at Bushmans Kloof</title>
  <description>Although the local San tribesmen whose ancient ancestors created them vanished from the Cederberg Mountain wilderness over a century ago, the spectacular rock paintings of Bushmans Kloof – now protected by the World Heritage Foundation – live on. About 130 of them… some around 10,000 years old… can be found within the reserve. Avoid the midday heat with an early morning start and explore several of them by Land Rover with your personal ranger, who shares some of their mysteries. Afterward, do as you please… canoeing, hiking, biking, bird-watching, whatever… then, afternoon tea with fresh pastries and cakes… a late-afternoon game drive – followed by a sundowner, of course… and a special dinner under the stars. Just another day in paradise...</description>
  <overnight>Bushmans Kloof Wilderness Reserve – South Africa</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, tea, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="5">
  <title>A day in the Townships</title>
  <description>En route from the Cederberg wilderness to the Winelands, get an insider’s view of the struggles of South Africa’s black population during the years of apartheid in the Townships – where blacks were forced to live a bleak existence, most in dire poverty. Visiting Langa Township, you’ll walk the streets… visit a private home… and meet current residents with your local guide, Lizo &quot;MC&quot; Mgobozi, who recounts a highly personal tale of the hardships and challenges he and other Langa residents faced during that tragic time, and of how they’re creating a brighter future. Then it’s on to the lush Cape Winelands and Stellenbosch – the country’s second-oldest city after Cape Town – for two memorable nights at South Africa’s oldest operating inn.</description>
  <overnight>d’Ouwe Werf – Stellenbosch, South Africa</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="6">
  <title>Oh, the Winelands!</title>
  <description>A day in and around Stellenbosch means pedaling past sun-kissed vineyards on a morning bicycle trek through the idyllic countryside of South Africa’s most celebrated wine district… sampling local artisan cheese, tasty dried fruits and – naturally – excellent local wine on a roadside picnic … visiting a historic Stellenbosch winery for a tasting… and gaining insights on South African politics at a local lecture. Not to mention some of the things you might choose to do on your own, like searching the region’s lovely boutiques for that perfect piece of African art or jewelry… stopping for a meal in a charming café or bistro… going for a hike or a trail ride. Whatever your passion, it all makes for a pretty amazing day in the Winelands!</description>
  <overnight>d’Ouwe Werf – Stellenbosch, South Africa</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="7">
  <title>A desert full of life</title>
  <description>Traveling from one remarkable world to another is a Culturious hallmark... becoming an early-bird in more ways than one, rise and shine for a very early flight from Cape Town to the desert wonderland of Namibia.&amp;nbsp; Fly via Windhoek, the capital, to Sossusvlei in Namib-Naukluft Park, within the amazing Sand Dune Sea that blankets much of the western part of the country. In the midst of this red sea of sand, Kulala Desert Lodge is a little slice of luxury in Kulala Wilderness Reserve. Listen to a lecture on Namibia’s struggle for independence... take afternoon tea... hop into a Land Rover for a nature drive to spot oryx, kudu, ostriches and springbok... and sip a sundowner as the blazing sun sets over the oldest desert on earth!</description>
  <overnight>Kulala Desert Lodge – Sossusvlei, Namibia</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, tea, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="8">
  <title>Sand, sand everywhere…</title>
  <description>Sand... lots and lots of it. Look up... look down... look all around. It’s everywhere (the Sand Dune Sea stretches out over 12,000 square miles)... it’s millions of years old... it’s otherworldly beautiful... and it’s all yours! Venture out to the dunes and, if you choose to, climb these skyscraper-high mountains of sand, which change their shape with the shifting desert winds, and their colors with the changing light. Climb Big Daddy, rising about a thousand feet... walk through the ominously named but lovely Dead Vlei, whose apricot-colored dunes teem with wildlife and small lakes... embark on a game drive... and enjoy tea and sundowners, of course. Another unforgettable day...</description>
  <overnight>Kulala Desert Lodge – Sossusvlei, Namibia</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, tea, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="9">
  <title>Along the Skeleton Coast</title>
  <description>Feast your senses on more incredible sands and seas... an optional early hot air balloon flight (available for an additional $499 per person) offers a bird’s-eye view of the dunes. Then fly over what Portuguese sailors called As Areias do Inferno (The Sands of Hell). We know it as the Skeleton Coast... an endless, forbidding stretch of beach that for centuries has been a graveyard for ships like the Eduard Bohlen; it ran aground in 1909 but now lies buried in dunes a half-mile inland! Wave to thousands of seals en route to Swakopmund – a 19th-century German colonial outpost-turned-resort that many call “more German than Germany.” Check out the village... have a traditional lunch... and relax at a luxury hotel that’s hosted celebrities as diverse as Eartha Kitt and Aristotle Onassis.</description>
  <overnight>Hansa Hotel – Swakopmund, Namibia</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="10">
  <title>Of seals, seabirds… and rhinos</title>
  <description>Express your adventurous nature by setting off to Walvis Bay for nature adventures... first by 4x4 vehicle along a seemingly endless spit of sand and past enormous salt pans to Pelican Point, boasting more seals and shore birds than anyplace on earth... then by sea kayak, paddling across calm waters to visit the denizens of the bay – flocks of pelicans, cormorants and flamingoes... and throngs of seals who’ll be so close you could almost touch them! On via air to Etosha National Park and the adjacent Ongava Reserve, a private piece of wilderness that’s home to both the endangered black and white rhino. Learn about the reserve’s mission from its director, and watch the wildlife outside your brick, rock and thatch chalet... heaven.</description>
  <overnight>Ongava Lodge – Ongava Game Reserve, Namibia</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="11">
  <title>Lions and rhinos and more</title>
  <description>Astonishing... it’s not an inappropriate word for the quantity and diversity of wildlife you’ll encounter as you hop aboard Land Rovers for game drives in both Etosha National Park and Ongava Reserve. Lions... cheetahs... gemsbok... zebras... giraffes... kudu... wildebeest... springbok... hartebeest... and the rare black and white rhinocerous, protected by the reserve’s own unique rhino rescue program. All playing the game of life right there in front you... making your heart race – and your camera click – with excitement. Then relaxing in your air-conditioned chalet... sipping a sundowner against the backdrop of one more African sunset... digging into a sumptuous farewell dinner under the stars... could you ever forget even a single moment?</description>
  <overnight>Ongava Lodge – Ongava Game Reserve, Namibia</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="12">
  <title>Homeward bound</title>
  <description>Tour ends: Windhoek, Namibia. Your Culturious trip to one of the most exciting and intriguing corners of the world is over today... but those memories will definitely linger on. After a final taste of Namibia at breakfast at Ongava Lodge, it’s&amp;nbsp; a short hop by air to Windhoek, then a transfer overland is included to Windhoek International Airport in time for your flight back home; you can fly home any time today. And if you’d like to extend your time in Namibia, we can arrange a stay at the Olive Grove Hotel in the heart of Windhoek.</description>
  <overnight></overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast</meals>
</itineraryDay>
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  <highlights></highlights>
  <tauckValues>
    <value order="1">Stay in the “World’s Best Hotel” with just 30 pampered guests</value><value order="2">Kayak with penguins along Boulders Beach</value><value order="3">Learn a little Afrikaans</value><value order="4">Get a taste of daily life at a braai BBQ at a private home</value><value order="5">See ancient rock art and go on game drives with your private ranger at Bushmans Kloof</value><value order="6">Bike through vineyards, sampling regional fare and wine</value><value order="7">Learn about the Apartheid from a resident of Langa Township</value><value order="8">See big game up-close in premier reserves in South Africa and Namibia</value><value order="9">Fly over the massive sand dunes off the Skeleton Coast</value><value order="10">Meet the conservationists of Ongava Reserve and see rare black rhinos on game drives</value><value order="11">Paddle a sea kayak amidst seals</value>
  </tauckValues>  
  
</tour><tour>
  <sourceId>VT2010</sourceId>
  <title>Tuscany &amp; Cinque Terre</title>
  <summary>
    <![CDATA[		Tuscany travel... a fresh new perspective on life under the Tuscan
sun... the Culturious way. It&apos;s hands-on learning with local experts on
many subjects, who share their experience, their knowledge and their
passions. And you are suddenly living la dolce vita... 
]]>
  </summary>
  <description>
    <![CDATA[Laughing at the enoteca while debating the merits of the olive oil flavors you’ve just tasted… triumphantly ordering gelato using the new Italian phrases you’ve just mastered… feeling the breeze while bicycling on the city walls of Lucca… savoring the delectable prosciutto and Florentine cheeses you’ve just chosen from a local market for lunch – or the fruit of the vineyards you’ve just walked through. This is Culturious… and this is Tuscany… now, your Tuscany. 2010 pricing starts at US $3490 per person double. Maximum group size is 16.
]]>
  </description>
  <link>http://culturious.com/tuscany/</link>
  <durationDays>8</durationDays>
  <durationDetails>8 days and 7 nights.</durationDetails>
  <tripType>ESCORTED_TOUR</tripType>
  <brand>Culturious</brand>
  <subbrand>None</subbrand>
  <gradeRating>ALL_AGES</gradeRating>
  <comfortRating>COMFORTABLE_MIXED</comfortRating>
  <startingLocation>Florence</startingLocation>
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    <price currency="USD">3490</price>
    <priceDetails><![CDATA[All prices are per person in U.S. dollars. ]]></priceDetails>
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  <itinerary>
    <![CDATA[Laughing at the enoteca while debating the merits of the olive oil flavors you’ve just tasted… triumphantly ordering gelato using the new Italian phrases you’ve just mastered… feeling the breeze while bicycling on the city walls of Lucca… savoring the delectable prosciutto and Florentine cheeses you’ve just chosen from a local market for lunch – or the fruit of the vineyards you’ve just walked through. This is Culturious… and this is Tuscany… now, your Tuscany. 2010 pricing starts at US $3490 per person double. Maximum group size is 16. 

1. Reliving the Renaissance in Florence
Tour begins: Florence. Arrive in Florence; a transfer is included from Peretola Airport to Gallery Hotel Art. A twisted maze of narrow alleyways...and Tuscany travel days begin. Florence’s Renaissance heart makes yours beat a little faster as you ramble through it with your Florentine guide. Walk along the Arno and check out Santa Maria del Fiore, the Duomo. See, touch and feel the mark of Michelangelo and Brunelleschi in stately palazzi, beautiful basilicas, and even arrogant monuments built by the Medicis to themselves. Cocktails and canapés offer a warm and tasty Culturious welcome tonight. Cross the Arno, across the Ponte Vecchio, to a riverside restaurant for a true Tuscan welcome, maybe peeking into one of the bridge’s ancient shops, where jewelers have plied their trade for half a millennium … diamonds are forever! The restaurant is lively, the views wonderful, the conversation... you have arrived in Italy. Meals D
 
2. Inside a City of Secrets
Michelangelo&apos;s shadow looms large in Firenze. But how... why... where? A Florentine art history scholar tells all. The Uffizi – founded by the Medicis to display their countless treasures – reveals a few secrets of its own. Getting up close and personal with Botticelli’s Birth of Venus or Michelangelo’s Doni Tondo – in a frame designed by the Master himself – can’t help but touch your soul… and the artist lurking within. We&apos;ve all got passionate interests, and you&apos;ll have time to explore yours in Florence today. Next up is a visit to the Galleria dell&apos;Accademia, home of Michelangelo&apos;s famed David. By midday you&apos;ll understand how art and history are inextricably intertwined in Florence. Continue a chat about art… and the Renaissance... and all things Florentine with phrases picked up in today&apos;s basic Italiano lesson… bellisimo! Meals B

3. Living the Florentine Life
In the Tuscan hills overlooking Florence, take a walk that begins in the village of Fiesole. Wind over hilltops past ancient stone quarries to Maiano and a cappuccino… ah, Tuscany travel memories. With a local guide, stroll through Florence’s Mercato Central, where you might try sampling traditional Florentine street food – lampredotto sandwiches… fresh fruit... porchetta… gelato… Take a walk along the cobbled streets of the Oltrarno, its Renaissance palaces harboring salacious scandals and murky intrigues… You’re in the thick of Florentine life in the old San Niccolo district’s bustling squares and artisans’ workshops. Restoration specialist Bettina Schindler-Pratesi shares the secrets of her work… giving new life to old ivory, bone and mother-of-pearl. Dine as you please on your own this evening, perhaps a taste of vino and local cheeses at an enoteca… now that&apos;s amore... Meals B

4. The Way to Cinque Terre
The road winds and twists and turns as you travel toward the Gulf of Genoa. Take a winding road deep into a mountain to see where celebrated Carrara marble, considered the finest on earth, has been quarried since Roman times. In a hidden gem along the way – the old Toscana village of Colonnata – live like a local and try a lardo at a trattoria. Reaching Portovenere on the Gulf of Poets, you’ll instantly get why this stunning Roman-Byzantine town was named for the goddess Venus. Colorful houses cascade along a hillside against the azure sea… the black-and-white-striped Gothic church of San Pietro perched above... images captured as you cruise from Portovenere to the Cinque Terre village of Monterosso – and not soon forgotten... Meals BD

5. Discovering “The Five Lands”
Gazing over the sea from your hotel perched above Monterosso al Mare, life is beautiful. Perhaps a dip in the sea from the private beach of Porto Roca? Dotted with lemon trees and calla lilies, Monterosso is one of five remote fishing villages strung like jewels along the coast – Cinque Terre, “the five lands.” They’re now linked to the outside world by rail, but for centuries were accessible only by sea… or on foot, the best way to appreciate life in what is truly a world of its own. If you wish, take one of the world’s most spectacular coastal hikes, through terraced vineyards overlooking the sea from Monterosso to Vernazza – the “pearl of Cinque Terre.” If not, you&apos;ll travel by train, which is an experience unto itself. Fall in love with village life… indelible seascape memories… and lunch in a sidewalk café, alive with the flavors of local wines, citrus, olives, and the catch of the day. The remainder of the day is free to do as you please, find your own pursuits... and what could be better than that. Meals B

6. Tasting Tuscany
A jog, or a swim, is an excellent way to start the day before a drive through the Tuscan Hills to Lucca. If you’re wondering if Tuscany is all about the food, a hands-on lesson with experts in the art of making fresh pasta at Fattoria Colle Verde, one of the region’s foremost wineries and olive oil producers, may shed some light. After a little testing and a little cooking, cap your pasta-making debut with a little virgin olive oil tasting… a little Tuscan wine tasting… and more than a little pasta tasting at lunch. You can take a walk through olive groves and across rolling hills for a taste of life in the Royal Villa of Marlia – picture Napoleon’s sister strolling the grounds (she lived here), or artist John Singer Sargent (a frequent guest) painting in the garden... or head straight to the walled city of Lucca, your home for the next two nights. Meals BL

7. A Feast for the Senses in Lucca
Medieval Lucca’s redbrick walls shut out traffic and the modern world… leaving a peaceful community that still revolves around its original Roman street plan. And because it’s topographically flat – unlike most Tuscan towns – Lucca is a cyclist’s dream. One of the best ways to explore this colorful, elegant, historically powerful and culturally rich city is by bike – zipping down its narrow lanes… across its ancient piazzas… even along the top of its massive walls! And if you&apos;re not interested in bicycling, there&apos;s so much to see and do in town. Delighting all the senses is a hallmark of the Tuscan Hills… so a local winery just outside of town is the perfect venue for tasting local wine, sipping prosecco, sampling a canapé... perfect for reflections on a week well spent. And to finish it off, a memorable dinner of Tuscan specialties in an absolutely magical spot… under the setting Tuscan sun. Meals BD

8. Arrivederci, Tuscany
Tour ends: Florence. Fly home anytime. A transfer will be provided from Hotel Ilaria to Peretola Airport in Florence. As you return to Florence through those magical hills for your journey home, the rich flavors of Tuscany travel, Culturious-style, linger in your memory. And there they’ll stay… warm and inviting… till your next visit. Meals B
]]>
  </itinerary>
  <itineraryDetails>
    <itineraryDay day="1">
  <title>Reliving the Renaissance in Florence</title>
  <description>Tour begins: Florence.  Arrive in Florence; a transfer is included from Peretola Airport to Gallery Hotel Art.  A twisted maze of narrow alleyways...and Tuscany travel days begin.  Florence&apos;s Renaissance heart makes yours beat a little faster as you ramble through it with your Florentine guide.  Walk along the Arno and check out Santa Maria del Fiore, the Duomo.  See, touch and feel the mark of Michelangelo and Brunelleschi in stately palazzi, beautiful basilicas, and even arrogant monuments built by the Medicis to themselves.  Cocktails and canap&amp;#233;s offer a warm and tasty Culturious welcome tonight.  Cross the Arno, across the Ponte Vecchio, to a riverside restaurant for a true Tuscan welcome, maybe peeking into one of the bridge&apos;s ancient shops, where jewelers have plied their trade for half a millennium &amp;#133; diamonds are forever! The restaurant is lively, the views wonderful, the conversation...  you have arrived in Italy.  Meals D</description>
  <overnight></overnight>
  <meals>Dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="2">
  <title>Inside a City of Secrets</title>
  <description>Michelangelo&apos;s shadow looms large in Firenze.  But how...  why...  where? A Florentine art history scholar tells all.  The Uffizi &amp;#45; founded by the Medicis to display their countless treasures &amp;#45; reveals a few secrets of its own.  Getting up close and personal with Botticelli&apos;s Birth of Venus or Michelangelo&apos;s Doni Tondo &amp;#45; in a frame designed by the Master himself &amp;#45; can&apos;t help but touch your soul&amp;#133; and the artist lurking within.  We&apos;ve all got passionate interests, and you&apos;ll have time to explore yours in Florence today.  Next up is a visit to the Galleria dell&apos;Accademia, home of Michelangelo&apos;s famed David.  By midday you&apos;ll understand how art and history are inextricably intertwined in Florence.  Continue a chat about art&amp;#133; and the Renaissance...  and all things Florentine with phrases picked up in today&apos;s basic Italiano lesson&amp;#133; bellisimo! Meals B</description>
  <overnight></overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="3">
  <title>Living the Florentine Life</title>
  <description>In the Tuscan hills overlooking Florence, take a walk that begins in the village of Fiesole.  Wind over hilltops past ancient stone quarries to Maiano and a cappuccino&amp;#133; ah, Tuscany travel memories.  With a local guide, stroll through Florence&apos;s Mercato Central, where you might try sampling traditional Florentine street food &amp;#45; lampredotto sandwiches&amp;#133; fresh fruit...  porchetta&amp;#133; gelato&amp;#133; Take a walk along the cobbled streets of the Oltrarno, its Renaissance palaces harboring salacious scandals and murky intrigues&amp;#133; You&apos;re in the thick of Florentine life in the old San Niccolo district&apos;s bustling squares and artisans&apos; workshops.  Restoration specialist Bettina Schindler&amp;#45;Pratesi shares the secrets of her work&amp;#133; giving new life to old ivory, bone and mother&amp;#45;of&amp;#45;pearl.  Dine as you please on your own this evening, perhaps a taste of vino and local cheeses at an enoteca&amp;#133; now that&apos;s amore...  Meals B</description>
  <overnight></overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="4">
  <title>The Way to Cinque Terre</title>
  <description>The road winds and twists and turns as you travel toward the Gulf of Genoa.  Take a winding road deep into a mountain to see where celebrated Carrara marble, considered the finest on earth, has been quarried since Roman times.  In a hidden gem along the way &amp;#45; the old Toscana village of Colonnata &amp;#45; live like a local and try a lardo at a trattoria.  Reaching Portovenere on the Gulf of Poets, you&apos;ll instantly get why this stunning Roman&amp;#45;Byzantine town was named for the goddess Venus.  Colorful houses cascade along a hillside against the azure sea&amp;#133; the black&amp;#45;and&amp;#45;white&amp;#45;striped Gothic church of San Pietro perched above...  images captured as you cruise from Portovenere to the Cinque Terre village of Monterosso &amp;#45; and not soon forgotten...  Meals BD</description>
  <overnight></overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="5">
  <title>Discovering “The Five Lands”</title>
  <description>Gazing over the sea from your hotel perched above Monterosso al Mare, life is beautiful.  Perhaps a dip in the sea from the private beach of Porto Roca? Dotted with lemon trees and calla lilies, Monterosso is one of five remote fishing villages strung like jewels along the coast &amp;#45; Cinque Terre, “the five lands.” They&apos;re now linked to the outside world by rail, but for centuries were accessible only by sea&amp;#133; or on foot, the best way to appreciate life in what is truly a world of its own.  If you wish, take one of the world&apos;s most spectacular coastal hikes, through terraced vineyards overlooking the sea from Monterosso to Vernazza &amp;#45; the “pearl of Cinque Terre.” If not, you&apos;ll travel by train, which is an experience unto itself.  Fall in love with village life&amp;#133; indelible seascape memories&amp;#133; and lunch in a sidewalk caf&amp;#233;, alive with the flavors of local wines, citrus, olives, and the catch of the day.  The remainder of the day is free to do as you please, find your own pursuits...  and what could be better than that.  Meals B</description>
  <overnight></overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="6">
  <title>Tasting Tuscany</title>
  <description>A jog, or a swim, is an excellent way to start the day before a drive through the Tuscan Hills to Lucca.  If you&apos;re wondering if Tuscany is all about the food, a hands&amp;#45;on lesson with experts in the art of making fresh pasta at Fattoria Colle Verde, one of the region&apos;s foremost wineries and olive oil producers, may shed some light.  After a little testing and a little cooking, cap your pasta&amp;#45;making debut with a little virgin olive oil tasting&amp;#133; a little Tuscan wine tasting&amp;#133; and more than a little pasta tasting at lunch.  You can take a walk through olive groves and across rolling hills for a taste of life in the Royal Villa of Marlia &amp;#45; picture Napoleon&apos;s sister strolling the grounds (she lived here), or artist John Singer Sargent (a frequent guest) painting in the garden...  or head straight to the walled city of Lucca, your home for the next two nights.  Meals BL</description>
  <overnight></overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="7">
  <title>A Feast for the Senses in Lucca</title>
  <description>Medieval Lucca&apos;s redbrick walls shut out traffic and the modern world&amp;#133; leaving a peaceful community that still revolves around its original Roman street plan.  And because it&apos;s topographically flat &amp;#45; unlike most Tuscan towns &amp;#45; Lucca is a cyclist&apos;s dream.  One of the best ways to explore this colorful, elegant, historically powerful and culturally rich city is by bike &amp;#45; zipping down its narrow lanes&amp;#133; across its ancient piazzas&amp;#133; even along the top of its massive walls! And if you&apos;re not interested in bicycling, there&apos;s so much to see and do in town.  Delighting all the senses is a hallmark of the Tuscan Hills&amp;#133; so a local winery just outside of town is the perfect venue for tasting local wine, sipping prosecco, sampling a canap&amp;#233;...  perfect for reflections on a week well spent.  And to finish it off, a memorable dinner of Tuscan specialties in an absolutely magical spot&amp;#133; under the setting Tuscan sun.  Meals BD</description>
  <overnight></overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="8">
  <title>Arrivederci, Tuscany</title>
  <description>Tour ends: Florence. Fly home anytime. A transfer will be provided from Hotel Ilaria to Peretola Airport in Florence. As you return to Florence through those magical hills for your journey home, the rich flavors of Tuscany travel, Culturious-style, linger in your memory. And there they’ll stay… warm and inviting… till your next visit.&amp;nbsp;</description>
  <overnight></overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast</meals>
</itineraryDay>
  </itineraryDetails>
  <highlights></highlights>
  <tauckValues>
    <value order="1">Hike along Cinque Terre’s coastal paths amidst breathtaking views</value><value order="2">Hike along Cinque Terre’s coastal paths amidst breathtaking views</value><value order="3">Sample the street foods of a Florentine market</value><value order="4">Take a guided tour of the mountain quarries where Carrara marble has been mined since Roman times</value><value order="5">Bike ride atop the walls of Lucca</value><value order="6">Speak Italiano in a lesson</value><value order="7">Learn about the life &amp; works of Michelangelo at a lecture hosted by a Florentine art historian</value><value order="8">Live like a local in the Ligurian hills at a wine and olive oil tasting, then take a cooking class in the art of making pasta</value>
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  <title>A Week In... Ireland</title>
  <summary>
    <![CDATA[Tauck&apos;s Ireland travel week combines multiple nights at some of the Emerald Isle&apos;s finest hotels; indulge in Irish culture and lore from lunch on a working farm in the rural west to an Irish House Party in one of Dublin&apos;s historic Georgian buildings. 
]]>
  </summary>
  <description>
    <![CDATA[Tauck&apos;s weeklong Ireland travel adventure includes some of the Emerald Isle&apos;s most notable places, from scenic wonders like the Ring of Kerry to sophisticated cities and charming small towns dotting the verdant countryside. Meet a farm family and have lunch at a working dairy farm; explore the ruins of 6th-century Glendalough with a local guide; cross the country first class via the City Gold train to Dublin; attend an Irish House Party in Georgian Dublin, featuring traditional Irish music, dance and dinner; see the Cliffs of Moher, Blarney Castle and the Book of Kells; and enjoy multiple-night stays in some of Ireland&apos;s finest castle, country and city landmark hotels.


]]>
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  <durationDays>8</durationDays>
  <durationDetails>8 days and 7 nights.</durationDetails>
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  <brand>TWD</brand>
  <subbrand>Europe</subbrand>
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  <startingLocation>Shannon, Ireland</startingLocation>
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    <price currency="USD">3390</price>
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  <itineraryDetails>
    <itineraryDay day="1">
  <title>Arrive Shannon </title>
  <description>Tour begins: 6:00 PM, Dromoland Castle. A transfer is included from Shannon Airport to Dromoland Castle. Your week in Ireland begins this evening with a welcome cocktail reception and dinner in the castle.</description>
  <overnight>Dromoland Castle, Newmarket-on-Fergus, Ireland</overnight>
  <meals>Dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="2">
  <title>Cliffs of Moher</title>
  <description>A visit to the Cliffs of Moher takes you through The Burren, an eerie landscape of limestone outcrops, to the Cliffs of Moher. The cliffs, over five miles long, and as high as 660 feet, tower over the Atlantic Ocean coastline offering amazing views. Stunning scenic beauty continues to entice on the royal grounds of Dromoland Castle, standing majestically over 410 emerald acres.</description>
  <overnight>Dromoland Castle, Newmarket-on-Fergus, Ireland</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="3">
  <title>Molanna Dairy Farm / Killarney</title>
  <description>Farming in the west of Ireland has been a mainstay of the Irish economy for centuries. Today you’ll visit a working dairy farm, Molanna Dairy Farm; here, you’ll get to know the family, learn about traditions and customs in the west of Ireland, and have lunch. Travel to Killarney, in the heart of Ireland’s beautiful lake district, for a two-night stay at a modern five-star hotel set on 64 acres of parkland.</description>
  <overnight>Hotel Dunloe Castle, Killarney, Ireland</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="4">
  <title>Drive the Ring of Kerry</title>
  <description>Journey along the captivating Ring of Kerry today around the Iveragh Peninsula. One of Ireland’s most beautiful and popular drives, its diverse landscapes change from the rugged beauty of the wild Irish coast to the tranquility of Killarney’s lakes, passing through quintessential Irish towns. Return to your hotel late this afternoon; the remainder of the day is at your leisure.</description>
  <overnight>Hotel Dunloe Castle, Killarney, Ireland</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="5">
  <title>Blarney Castle / Dublin</title>
  <description>Travel through County Kerry to 15th-century Blarney Castle, where you will have the chance to acquire the gift of gab by kissing the Blarney Stone. Then it’s all aboard the City Gold train in first-class seats from Mallow to Ireland’s capital city of Dublin, rich in history and proud of its past. Tonight you’ll experience one of Ireland’s enduring traditions – an evening of traditional Irish music and Irish dancing. The Irish House Party takes place in the private parlor room of a family-owned Georgian building in the literary quarter. You’ll be treated to dinner and an evening that will both entertain and educate with stories about Dublin’s unique characters, traditional music by leading musicians, and dance.</description>
  <overnight>The Westbury Hotel, Dublin, Ireland</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="6">
  <title>Explore Dublin </title>
  <description>Experience an in-depth introduction to Dublin on a city sightseeing tour that includes lively O’Connell Street, elegant Georgian squares, and beautiful parks. We’ll take you inside Trinity College Library to see the 8th-century Book of Kells, before giving you the opportunity to enjoy the city as you wish. Your hotel, The Westbury, is right in the heart of the city, just steps away from famed Grafton Street; it is a member of The Leading Hotels of the World.</description>
  <overnight>The Westbury Hotel, Dublin, Ireland</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="7">
  <title>Glendalough / Dublin</title>
  <description>Venture outside of Dublin into the hills of Wicklow to the ancient monastic settlement of Glendalough via Tauck’s Yellow Roads. Set deep in a valley between two lakes, Glendalough was established by St. Kevin in the 6th century. Most of the ruins and sites date from the 10th century and are remarkably preserved; see some of the most significant ones on a guided tour. Return to Dublin midday for time at leisure. Join us tonight for a farewell dinner.</description>
  <overnight>The Westbury Hotel, Dublin, Ireland</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="8">
  <title>Journey Home</title>
  <description>Tour ends: Dublin. Fly home anytime. A transfer is included from The Westbury Hotel to Dublin Airport. You should allow a minimum of 2 1/2 hours for check-in.</description>
  <overnight></overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast</meals>
</itineraryDay>
  </itineraryDetails>
  <highlights>		
Killarney ~ Ring of Kerry ~ Blarney Castle ~ Glendalough ~ Dublin 
</highlights>
  <tauckValues>
    <value order="1">TAUCK&apos;S YELLOW ROADS! You&apos;ll find yourself journeying off-the-beaten path all week, from the lunar-like landscapes of The Burren to the dramatic winding roads of the Ring of Kerry to the lush valleys of the Wicklow Hills</value><value order="2">An evening of traditional Irish music and dance (and dinner) in Dublin at The Irish House Party, held in the private parlor room of a family-owned Georgian building</value><value order="3">Visit to a working dairy farm where youll meet the family, learn about farming in the west of Ireland and have lunch</value><value order="4">Guided visit through Glendalough, ruins of a 6th-century monastic settlement located in the Wicklow Hills outside of Dublin</value><value order="5">Airport transfers upon arrival and departure as noted</value><value order="6">17 meals (7 breakfasts, 4 lunches, 6 dinners), service charges, gratuities to local guides, admission fees, taxes and porterage</value>
  </tauckValues>  
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</tour><tour>
  <sourceId>WL2010</sourceId>
  <title>A Week In... London and Paris</title>
  <summary>
    <![CDATA[Experience powerful history and rich cultural connections on Tauck&apos;s week-long Paris and London tour, highlighted by afternoon tea and a West End theater performance in London, and a visit to the Louvre and a dinner cruise on the Seine in Paris. Select Small Group departure dates available with no more than 26 Tauck guests!
]]>
  </summary>
  <description>
    <![CDATA[History and intrigue highlight Tauck&apos;s classic Paris and London tour, from jeweled crowns to garden mazes to ancient alleyways. In London visit Windsor Castle, the Tower and the British Museum; see the city from above on the London Eye; enjoy afternoon tea; and attend a performance of Jersey Boys in the West End. Cross the Channel Tunnel aboard Eurostar to Paris for visits to Versailles and Montmartre; a privately guided tour of Musée du Louvre; a gracious lunch hosted by the granddaughter of author Gaston Leroux; and a private dinner cruise on the River Seine.
]]>
  </description>
  <link>http://www.tauck.com/tours/europe-tours/great-britain-and-ireland-tours/london-tour-wl-2010</link>
  <durationDays>8</durationDays>
  <durationDetails>8 days and 7 nights.</durationDetails>
  <tripType>ESCORTED_TOUR</tripType>
  <brand>TWD</brand>
  <subbrand>Europe</subbrand>
  <gradeRating>ALL_AGES</gradeRating>
  <comfortRating>COMFORTABLE_MIXED</comfortRating>
  <startingLocation>London, England</startingLocation>
  <prices>
    <price currency="USD">3290</price>
    <priceDetails><![CDATA[All prices are per person in U.S. dollars. ]]></priceDetails>
  </prices>
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  <itinerary>
    <![CDATA[
		
     
]]>
  </itinerary>
  <itineraryDetails>
    <itineraryDay day="1">
  <title>Arrive London </title>
  <description>Tour begins: 4:30 PM, Hyatt Regency London – The Churchill. A transfer is included from Heathrow Airport to Hyatt Regency London – The Churchill, close to Hyde Park and Oxford Street in the West End. A brief sightseeing tour introduces you to the city of London before we officially welcome you with a cocktail reception and dinner aboard a riverboat moored on the banks of the River Thames.</description>
  <overnight>Hyatt Regency London – The Churchill, London, England</overnight>
  <meals>Dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="2">
  <title>Windsor Castle / Westminster Abbey</title>
  <description>Journey into the countryside this morning for a visit to Windsor Castle, home to British royalty for more than 900 years; see St. George’s Chapel, Queen Mary’s Dolls’ House, and, schedule permitting, the State Apartments. Return to London for a guided tour of Westminster Abbey. One of the most beautiful buildings in London, it has been the burial place of Britain’s monarchs since the 11th century.</description>
  <overnight>Hyatt Regency London – The Churchill, London, England</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="3">
  <title>Tower of London &amp; West End Theatre</title>
  <description>London’s historic past blends with a taste of modern-day life. Tour the Tower of London (Her Majesty’s Royal Palace and Fortress) and view the world’s best-known collection of Crown Jewels. Sightseeing achieves new heights when you ride the London Eye, soaring 450 feet above the River Thames. Your day culminates with a visit to London’s West End for a pre-show dinner and a theatre performance of Jersey Boys.</description>
  <overnight>Hyatt Regency London – The Churchill, London, England</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="4">
  <title>British Museum and Afternoon Tea</title>
  <description>Join us for a guided visit to the British Museum, known for its collections of art, artifacts and antiquities. Enjoy afternoon tea, another beloved English tradition, at the famed department store Fortnum &amp;amp; Mason, and spend the remainder of the day as you wish exploring London.</description>
  <overnight>Hyatt Regency London – The Churchill, London, England</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="5">
  <title>First Class Train to Paris</title>
  <description>Travel first class aboard the Eurostar under the English Channel and arrive in the city of Paris in just a few hours. View Paris’ landmark attractions on a city sightseeing drive en route to your hotel. Tonight, dine in the restaurant on the 56th floor of Montparnasse Tower – the centuries-old city layout, as the lights of Paris come on, will be long remembered!</description>
  <overnight>InterContinental Paris Le Grand Hotel, Paris, France</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="6">
  <title>Versailles &amp; Montmartre</title>
  <description>17th-century Château de Versailles was built during the reign of Louis XIV, the “Sun King”; visit the State Apartments. Lunch at a charming Parisian restaurant is hosted by the granddaughter of Gaston Leroux, author of The Phantom of the Opera; it is followed by a walking tour of Montmartre. Set high on a hill overlooking the city, the area has attracted writers, poets and artists for centuries. The remainder of the day is free to pursue your own special interests.</description>
  <overnight>InterContinental Paris Le Grand Hotel, Paris, France</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="7">
  <title>Musée du Louvre / Cruise</title>
  <description>Musée du Louvre, originally built as a fortress, was a royal residence for nearly 600 years before becoming one of Europe’s foremost museums. View its phenomenal collections of prints, antiquities, paintings, sculpture, and drawings, including the Mona Lisa, on a guided tour. Join us tonight for a farewell dinner cruise along the River Seine – a delightful way to bid adieu to Paris.</description>
  <overnight>InterContinental Paris Le Grand Hotel, Paris, France</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="8">
  <title>Journey Home</title>
  <description>Tour ends: Paris. Fly home anytime. A transfer is included from InterContinental Paris Le Grand to Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport. Allow 2 1/2 hours for flight check-in.</description>
  <overnight></overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast</meals>
</itineraryDay>
  </itineraryDetails>
  <highlights>		
Tower of London ~ Eurostar through Channel Tunnel ~ Versailles 
</highlights>
  <tauckValues>
    <value order="1">TAUCK’S YELLOW ROADS! Venture outside of England’s venerable capital city on an excursion to Windsor Castle, 25 miles outside of London</value><value order="2">England’s most popular traditions – afternoon tea and a West End theatre evening featuring a performance of Jersey Boys</value><value order="3">A guided visit through the incomparable Musée du Louvre where the world’s most important art collections are housed</value><value order="4">Farewell dinner cruise in Paris on the River Seine</value><value order="5">Airport transfers upon arrival and departure as detailed</value><value order="6">14 meals (7 breakfasts, 3 lunches, 4 dinners), service charges, gratuities to local guides, admission fees, taxes and porterage</value>
  </tauckValues>  
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    <date>
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</tour><tour>
  <sourceId>WMN2010</sourceId>
  <title>Treasures of the Mediterranean</title>
  <summary>
    <![CDATA[Tauck&apos;s 11-day journey features a week-long Mediterranean cruise aboard Le Ponant to Corsica, Sicily, and Malta, plus the islands of Lipari, Ponza, and Stromboli – and takes in the Côte d&apos;Azur, Monte-Carlo and the Amalfi Coast.
]]>
  </summary>
  <description>
    <![CDATA[Tauck&apos;s 11-day Mediterranean cruise explores the French Riviera, Italy&apos;s Amalfi Coast, and remote Mediterranean islands by land and yacht. Explore Malta, and board Le Ponant, your 60-passenger motor-sailing yacht to discover the islands of Lipari, Ponza, Stromboli, Elba, Corsica and Sicily; feel like a jet
setter pulling into ports aboard Le Ponant, designed to access the small harbors and remote destinations that large ships can’t maneuver. See fortified medieval towns, ornate cathedrals, ancient castles, and the incredible cliff-side drive along the Amalfi Coast. Experience glittering Monte-Carlo during a 2-night stay and visit Saint Paul-de-Vence for medieval enchantment handed down through the ages.
]]>
  </description>
  <link>http://cruise-travel.tauck.com/tours/europe-tours/mediterranean-tours/mediterranean-cruise-wmn-2010</link>
  <durationDays>11</durationDays>
  <durationDetails>11 days and 10 nights.</durationDetails>
  <tripType>ESCORTED_TOUR</tripType>
  <brand>TauckAtSea</brand>
  <subbrand>Tauck at Sea</subbrand>
  <gradeRating>ALL_AGES</gradeRating>
  <comfortRating>COMFORTABLE_MIXED</comfortRating>
  <startingLocation>Valletta, Malta</startingLocation>
  <prices>
    <price currency="USD">6590</price>
    <priceDetails><![CDATA[All prices are per person in U.S. dollars. ]]></priceDetails>
  </prices>
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  <itinerary>
    <![CDATA[Northbound 

• = cruise day

1. Arrive Malta 
Tour begins: 6:00 PM, Hotel Phoenicia Malta. A transfer is included from Malta International Airport to the Hotel Phoenicia Malta in the port of Valletta. Join us for a welcome cocktail reception and dinner. Meals D

• 2. Discover Malta / Embark Ship
A guided tour of Malta takes you through the city of Mdina and on a coastal drive along St. Julian’s Bay, while a walking tour within the centuries-old defensive walls of the capital city Valletta includes the elaborate Co-Cathedral of St. John. Embark Le Ponant for the start of your cruise. Meals BLD

• 3. Cruise to Sicily / Taormina
Set ashore on Sicily for a visit to ancient Taormina. Stroll along the Corso Umberto, the main walkway through Old Town, lined with historic monuments and sidewalk cafés, and take a guided walking tour of the Greek theatre, with views of Mt. Etna. Your afternoon is free to explore Taormina on your own or return to the ship to relax or swim. Meals BLD

• 4. Lipari / Fiery Lava of Stromboli 
A tender takes you ashore to explore Lipari, largest of the Aeolian Islands, off the northern coast of Sicily; your day includes a tour of the island and a visit to Lipari’s fine Archaeological Museum. You’re in for a treat tonight as Le Ponant sails past fiery Stromboli, one of the world’s few constantly active volcanoes – unforgettable views! Meals BLD

• 5. Travel the Amalfi Coast / Ravello
Travel ashore for a journey along the Amalfi Coast. Take a guided walk through the town of Amalfi, then arrive in Ravello for a visit to 13th-century Villa Rufolo. Lunch features regional specialties and fantastic sea views! You’ll have time to explore Ravello on your own this afternoon. Meals BLD

• 6. Ponza / Cruise the Mediterranean
Le Ponant calls today at Ponza, the largest island in Italy’s Pontine Archipelago, where you’ll see dramatic coves and cliffs, vineyard-covered hillsides, the main town’s yellow and pink houses and its 18th-century harbor. Sightseeing precedes time at leisure to explore as you please. Meals BLD

• 7. Small Ships Only in Bonifacio
Corsica’s fjord-like harbor of Bonifacio is only accessible to small ships – your majestic entrance aboard Le Ponant is truly memorable! On shore, hop aboard Le Petit Train for a ride to the town’s walled fortress area; explore medieval lanes, stroll along the bluff above the harbor, and see the former barracks of the French Foreign Legion. Meals BLD

• 8. Island of Elba
Drop anchor in the secluded harbor of Portoferraio, Elba; settled by the Greeks in 10 BC, it was home to an exiled Napoleon Bonaparte. Visit the Palazzina dei Mulini, where the emperor and his sister lived in 1814. Spend the afternoon at leisure before returning to the ship – Le Ponant sails for Nice on the beautiful Côte d’Azur. Meals BLD

9. Disembark Nice / Monte-Carlo
Disembark Le Ponant in Nice this morning. A sightseeing tour includes the Russian Orthodox Cathédrale Saint-Nicolas and the Chagall Museum. Arrive in Monte-Carlo early afternoon, where you have a choice of exploring as you please or a visit to the palace and gardens, schedule permitting. Your hotel is located in the heart of Monte-Carlo, close to the casino. Meals B

10. Medieval Saint-Paul-de-Vence  
Journey today to the medieval village of Saint-Paul-de-Vence where a walking tour introduces you to its amazing heritage, chronicled in architectural treasures along its storied streets. The remainder of the afternoon is free in Monte-Carlo; join us for a farewell cocktail reception and dinner. Meals BD

11. Journey Home
Tour ends: Nice. Fly home anytime. A transfer is included from The Fairmont Monte Carlo to Nice Côte d’Azur Airport. Allow a minimum of 2 1/2 hours for check-in. Meals B

]]>
  </itinerary>
  <itineraryDetails>
    <itineraryDay day="1">
  <title>Arrive Malta </title>
  <description>Tour begins: 6:00 PM, Hotel Phoenicia Malta.  A transfer is included from Malta International Airport to the Hotel Phoenicia Malta in the port of Valletta.  Join us for a welcome cocktail reception and dinner.  Meals D</description>
  <overnight>Hotel Phoenicia Malta, Valletta, Malta</overnight>
  <meals>Dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="2">
  <title>Discover Malta / Embark Ship</title>
  <description>A guided tour of Malta takes you through the city of Mdina and on a coastal drive along St.  Julian&apos;s Bay, while a walking tour within the centuries&amp;#45;old defensive walls of the capital city Valletta includes the elaborate Co&amp;#45;Cathedral of St.  John.  Embark Le Ponant for the start of your cruise.  Meals BLD</description>
  <overnight>Cruising aboard Le Ponant</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="3">
  <title>Cruise to Sicily / Taormina</title>
  <description>Set ashore on Sicily for a visit to ancient Taormina.  Stroll along the Corso Umberto, the main walkway through Old Town, lined with historic monuments and sidewalk caf&amp;#233;s, and take a guided walking tour of the Greek theatre, with views of Mt.  Etna.  Your afternoon is free to explore Taormina on your own or return to the ship to relax or swim.  Meals BLD</description>
  <overnight>Cruising aboard Le Ponant</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="4">
  <title>Lipari / Fiery Lava of Stromboli </title>
  <description>A tender takes you ashore to explore Lipari, largest of the Aeolian Islands, off the northern coast of Sicily; your day includes a tour of the island and a visit to Lipari&apos;s fine Archaeological Museum.  You&apos;re in for a treat tonight as Le Ponant sails past fiery Stromboli, one of the world&apos;s few constantly active volcanoes &amp;#45; unforgettable views! Meals BLD</description>
  <overnight>Cruising aboard Le Ponant</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="5">
  <title>Travel the Amalfi Coast / Ravello</title>
  <description>Travel ashore for a journey along the Amalfi Coast.  Take a guided walk through the town of Amalfi, then arrive in Ravello for a visit to 13th&amp;#45;century Villa Rufolo.  Lunch features regional specialties and fantastic sea views! You&apos;ll have time to explore Ravello on your own this afternoon.  Meals BLD</description>
  <overnight>Cruising aboard Le Ponant</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="6">
  <title>Ponza / Cruise the Mediterranean</title>
  <description>Le Ponant calls today at Ponza, the largest island in Italy&apos;s Pontine Archipelago, where you&apos;ll see dramatic coves and cliffs, vineyard&amp;#45;covered hillsides, the main town&apos;s yellow and pink houses and its 18th&amp;#45;century harbor.  Sightseeing precedes time at leisure to explore as you please.  Meals BLD</description>
  <overnight>Cruising aboard Le Ponant</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="7">
  <title>Small Ships Only in Bonifacio</title>
  <description>Corsica&apos;s fjord&amp;#45;like harbor of Bonifacio is only accessible to small ships &amp;#45; your majestic entrance aboard Le Ponant is truly memorable! On shore, hop aboard Le Petit Train for a ride to the town&apos;s walled fortress area; explore medieval lanes, stroll along the bluff above the harbor, and see the former barracks of the French Foreign Legion.  Meals BLD</description>
  <overnight>Cruising aboard Le Ponant</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="8">
  <title>Island of Elba</title>
  <description>Drop anchor in the secluded harbor of Portoferraio, Elba; settled by the Greeks in 10 BC, it was home to an exiled Napoleon Bonaparte.  Visit the Palazzina dei Mulini, where the emperor and his sister lived in 1814.  Spend the afternoon at leisure before returning to the ship &amp;#45; Le Ponant sails for Nice on the beautiful C&amp;#244;te d&apos;Azur.  Meals BLD</description>
  <overnight>Cruising aboard Le Ponant</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="9">
  <title>Disembark Nice / Monte&amp;#45;Carlo</title>
  <description>Disembark Le Ponant in Nice this morning.  A sightseeing tour includes the Russian Orthodox Cath&amp;#233;drale Saint&amp;#45;Nicolas and the Chagall Museum.  Arrive in Monte&amp;#45;Carlo early afternoon, where you have a choice of exploring as you please or a visit to the palace and gardens, schedule permitting.  Your hotel is located in the heart of Monte&amp;#45;Carlo, close to the casino.  Meals B</description>
  <overnight>Fairmont Monte Carlo, Monte-Carlo, Monaco</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="10">
  <title>Medieval Saint&amp;#45;Paul&amp;#45;de&amp;#45;Vence </title>
  <description>Journey today to the medieval village of Saint&amp;#45;Paul&amp;#45;de&amp;#45;Vence where a walking tour introduces you to its amazing heritage, chronicled in architectural treasures along its storied streets.  The remainder of the afternoon is free in Monte&amp;#45;Carlo; join us for a farewell cocktail reception and dinner.  Meals BD</description>
  <overnight>Fairmont Monte Carlo, Monte-Carlo, Monaco</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="11">
  <title>Journey Home</title>
  <description>Tour ends: Nice. Fly home anytime. A transfer is included from The Fairmont Monte Carlo to Nice Côte d’Azur Airport. Allow a minimum of 2 1/2 hours for check-in.</description>
  <overnight></overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast</meals>
</itineraryDay>
  </itineraryDetails>
  <highlights>		

7-Night Cruise on Le Ponant ~ Malta ~ Sicily ~ Corsica ~ Amalfi Coast  ~ Monte-Carlo 
</highlights>
  <tauckValues>
    <value order="1">All gratuities to Tauck?Director, ship staff and local guides</value><value order="2">Only 60 guests aboard Le Ponant  club-like cruising!</value><value order="3">Private Tauck Shore Excursions  $647 Value!</value><value order="4">Six Mediterranean islands best accessed by small ship  Elba, Corsica, Ponza, Lipari, Sicily and Malta  for unique shore excursions off-the-beaten path</value><value order="5">Exploration of Saint-Paul-de-Vence and a wine tasting on Elba, where Napoleon lived during his exile</value><value order="6">A memorable night sailing by the volcanic island of Stromboli to view its eruptions of molten lava</value><value order="7">Cocktail hour, all-day soft drinks, wine with dinner aboard ship</value><value order="8">Most meals (10 breakfasts, 7 lunches, 9 dinners) on land and at sea</value><value order="9">Service charges, applicable fuel surcharges, taxes, porterage and airport transfers</value>
  </tauckValues>  
  <departureDates>
    <date>
    <day>1</day>
    <month>9</month>
    <year>2010</year>
    <singlesPrice>9590</singlesPrice>
    <doublesPrice>6990</doublesPrice>
    <triplesPrice>6045</triplesPrice>
    <quadsPrice>0</quadsPrice>
    <cabins>
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  <categoryCode>WMN20101</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>1</occupancy>
  <description>Cat. A - 2 twins or 1 double</description>
  <suppliment>0</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>9590</totalPrice>
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  <categoryCode>WMN20101</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>2</occupancy>
  <description>Cat. A - 2 twins or 1 double</description>
  <suppliment>0</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>6990</totalPrice>
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  <categoryCode>WMN20102</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>1</occupancy>
  <description>Cat. A - 1 fixed double or triple</description>
  <suppliment>0</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>9590</totalPrice>
</cabin>
<cabin>
  <categoryCode>WMN20102</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>2</occupancy>
  <description>Cat. A - 1 fixed double or triple</description>
  <suppliment>0</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>6990</totalPrice>
</cabin>
<cabin>
  <categoryCode>WMN20102</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>3</occupancy>
  <description>Cat. A - 1 fixed double or triple</description>
  <suppliment>0</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>6045</totalPrice>
</cabin>
<cabin>
  <categoryCode>WMN20103</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>1</occupancy>
  <description>Cat. B - 1 fixed double</description>
  <suppliment>230</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>9820</totalPrice>
</cabin>
<cabin>
  <categoryCode>WMN20103</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>2</occupancy>
  <description>Cat. B - 1 fixed double</description>
  <suppliment>230</suppliment>
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  </date>
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    <day>9</day>
    <month>10</month>
    <year>2010</year>
    <singlesPrice>9190</singlesPrice>
    <doublesPrice>6590</doublesPrice>
    <triplesPrice>5778</triplesPrice>
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  <suppliment>0</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>9190</totalPrice>
</cabin>
<cabin>
  <categoryCode>WMN20101</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>2</occupancy>
  <description>Cat. A - 2 twins or 1 double</description>
  <suppliment>0</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>6590</totalPrice>
</cabin>
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  <categoryCode>WMN20102</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>1</occupancy>
  <description>Cat. A - 1 fixed double or triple</description>
  <suppliment>0</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>9190</totalPrice>
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  <categoryCode>WMN20102</categoryCode>
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  <suppliment>0</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>6590</totalPrice>
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  <categoryCode>WMN20102</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>3</occupancy>
  <description>Cat. A - 1 fixed double or triple</description>
  <suppliment>0</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>5778</totalPrice>
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<cabin>
  <categoryCode>WMN20103</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>1</occupancy>
  <description>Cat. B - 1 fixed double</description>
  <suppliment>230</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>9420</totalPrice>
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<cabin>
  <categoryCode>WMN20103</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>2</occupancy>
  <description>Cat. B - 1 fixed double</description>
  <suppliment>230</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>6820</totalPrice>
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</tour><tour>
  <sourceId>WMS2010</sourceId>
  <title>Treasures of the Mediterranean</title>
  <summary>
    <![CDATA[Tauck&apos;s 11-day journey features a week-long Mediterranean Sea cruise aboard Le Ponant to Corsica, Sicily, and Malta, plus the islands of Lipari, Ponza, and Stromboli – and takes in the Côte d&apos;Azur, Monte-Carlo and the Amalfi Coast.
]]>
  </summary>
  <description>
    <![CDATA[Most Mediterranean cruises take in the French Riviera; Tauck&apos;s signature sightseeing also brings you to Italy&apos;s Amalfi Coast, and remote Mediterranean islands by land and yacht. Experience Monte-Carlo, and board a 60-passenger motor-sailing yacht to discover the islands of Lipari, Ponza, Stromboli, Corsica, Sicily, Elba and Malta. See fortified medieval towns, ornate cathedrals, ancient castles, and the incredible cliff-side drive along the Amalfi Coast. Feel like a jetsetter pulling into ports aboard Le Ponant, designed to access the small harbors and remote destinations that large ships can’t maneuver.
]]>
  </description>
  <link>http://cruise-travel.tauck.com/tours/europe-tours/mediterranean-tours/mediterranean-cruises-wms-2010</link>
  <durationDays>11</durationDays>
  <durationDetails>11 days and 10 nights.</durationDetails>
  <tripType>ESCORTED_TOUR</tripType>
  <brand>TauckAtSea</brand>
  <subbrand>Tauck at Sea</subbrand>
  <gradeRating>ALL_AGES</gradeRating>
  <comfortRating>COMFORTABLE_MIXED</comfortRating>
  <startingLocation>Nice, France</startingLocation>
  <prices>
    <price currency="USD">6590</price>
    <priceDetails><![CDATA[All prices are per person in U.S. dollars. ]]></priceDetails>
  </prices>
  <images>
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    <image>http://tools.tauck.com/Files/ItineraryImages/altImages/WMS2010_alt1.jpg</image>
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  <itinerary>
    <![CDATA[Southbound 

• = cruise day

1. Arrive Nice / Monte-Carlo
Tour begins: 6:00 PM, Fairmont Monte Carlo. A transfer is included from Nice Cote d’Azur Airport to the Fairmont Monte Carlo, set in the heart of Monte-Carlo, where you will enjoy Deluxe Garden-View rooms. Join us for tonight’s welcome cocktail reception and dinner. Meals D

2. Saint-Paul-de-Vence
Journey with us to medieval Saint-Paul-de-Vence, guarding its scenic hilltop views for centuries. Experience the glamour of Monte-Carlo on your own for the remainder of the day; your hotel is near the famous Monte-Carlo Casino. Meals B

• 3. Nice Sightseeing / Embark Ship
Join us for an optional visit to Monaco’s Palace and Gardens before going to Nice for a brief city sightseeing tour. Board Le Ponant for the start of your 7-night cruise to idyllic ports along the Mediterranean Sea. The ship is so intimate and welcoming, you’ll feel like you’re on your own yacht! Meals BD

• 4. Wine Tasting on Elba 
Drop anchor in the secluded harbor of Portoferraio, Elba, settled by the Greeks in the 10th century BC, and home to an exiled Napoleon Bonaparte. Visit the Palazzina dei Mulini where he and his sister lived in 1814, and savor local wine at a family-owned Elba winery. Enjoy free time in Porto Azzurro before setting sail for Bonifacio. Meals BLD

• 5. Small Ships Only in Bonifacio
Corsica’s fjord-like harbor of Bonifacio is only accessible to small ships – your majestic entrance aboard Le Ponant is truly a special moment! On shore, hop aboard Le Petit Train for a ride to the town’s walled fortress area; explore medieval lanes, stroll along the bluff above the harbor, and see the former barracks of the French Foreign Legion. Your ship charts a course for Ponza this afternoon. Meals BLD

• 6. Ponza / Cruise the Mediterranean
Charming Ponza is fringed with dramatic coves and cliffs, featuring yellow and pink houses. Fishing boats set out from the 18th-century harbor and vineyards cover the hillsides. Spend the morning exploring before setting sail for the Amalfi Coast, arriving in the Gulf of Salerno. Meals BLD

• 7. Travel the Amalfi Coast / Ravello
Go ashore for a memorable journey along the Amalfi Coast. Stop in the town of Amalfi, where you’ll have a guided walking tour and some free time before traveling to Ravello, dramatically overlooking the Bay of Sorrento. The town has always been a popular gathering spot for artists, musicians, and writers; a guided tour includes a visit to Villa Rufolo, a 13th-century watchtower with a rich Moorish design and spectacular gardens. Enjoy splendid sea views during a lunch of regional specialties before some time to explore the town of Ravello on your own. Meals BLD

• 8. Lipari / Fiery Lava of Stromboli 
Drop anchor in the waters off Lipari, largest of the Aeolian Islands. A tender takes you ashore for guided exploration of local sights and an optional visit to the archaeological museum. Weather permitting, take a swim off the stern of your yacht, one of the exclusive pleasures of cruising aboard an intimate small ship. Sail by Stromboli this evening, the “Black Giant,” one of the few volcanos in the world that is frequently active. The view of the crimson lava flows from the sea at night is truly unforgettable! Meals BLD

• 9. Cruise to Sicily / Taormina
Go ashore at Giardini-Naxos for a memorable visit to Taormina, clinging to the cliffs above the coast of eastern Sicily – stroll the Corso Umberto through Old Town, and take a guided tour of the ancient Greek Theatre, dating back to 2 BC, amidst inspiring views of Mt. Etna. Meals BLD

10. Arrive at Valletta, Malta 
Le Ponant sails into the Grand Harbor of Valletta in Malta where you will disembark ship. Enjoy an orientation tour of Mdina and a coastal drive around St. Julian’s Bay en route to your hotel. Then join us for a walking tour of Valletta and a visit to St. John’s Co-Cathedral. Malta’s capital city, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is a virtual open-air museum boasting beautiful Baroque architecture. Tauck’s farewell festivities tonight include cocktails and dinner. Meals BLD

11. Journey Home
Tour ends: Valletta, Malta. A transfer is included from Hotel Phoenicia Malta to Malta International Airport. Allow a minimum of 21/2 hours for flight check-in. Meals B
]]>
  </itinerary>
  <itineraryDetails>
    <itineraryDay day="1">
  <title>Arrive Nice / Monte&amp;#45;Carlo</title>
  <description>Tour begins: 6:00 PM, Fairmont Monte Carlo.  A transfer is included from Nice Cote d&apos;Azur Airport to the Fairmont Monte Carlo, set in the heart of Monte&amp;#45;Carlo, where you will enjoy Deluxe Garden&amp;#45;View rooms.  Join us for tonight&apos;s welcome cocktail reception and dinner.  Meals D</description>
  <overnight>Fairmont Monte Carlo, Monte-Carlo, Monaco</overnight>
  <meals>Dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="2">
  <title>Saint&amp;#45;Paul&amp;#45;de&amp;#45;Vence</title>
  <description>Journey with us to medieval Saint&amp;#45;Paul&amp;#45;de&amp;#45;Vence, guarding its scenic hilltop views for centuries.  Experience the glamour of Monte&amp;#45;Carlo on your own for the remainder of the day; your hotel is near the famous Monte&amp;#45;Carlo Casino.  Meals B</description>
  <overnight>Fairmont Monte Carlo, Monte-Carlo, Monaco</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="3">
  <title>Nice Sightseeing / Embark Ship</title>
  <description>Join us for an optional visit to Monaco&apos;s Palace and Gardens before going to Nice for a brief city sightseeing tour.  Board Le Ponant for the start of your 7&amp;#45;night cruise to idyllic ports along the Mediterranean Sea.  The ship is so intimate and welcoming, you&apos;ll feel like you&apos;re on your own yacht! Meals BD</description>
  <overnight>Cruising aboard Le Ponant</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="4">
  <title>Wine Tasting on Elba </title>
  <description>Drop anchor in the secluded harbor of Portoferraio, Elba, settled by the Greeks in the 10th century BC, and home to an exiled Napoleon Bonaparte.  Visit the Palazzina dei Mulini where he and his sister lived in 1814, and savor local wine at a family&amp;#45;owned Elba winery.  Enjoy free time in Porto Azzurro before setting sail for Bonifacio.  Meals BLD</description>
  <overnight>Cruising aboard Le Ponant</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="5">
  <title>Small Ships Only in Bonifacio</title>
  <description>Corsica&apos;s fjord&amp;#45;like harbor of Bonifacio is only accessible to small ships &amp;#45; your majestic entrance aboard Le Ponant is truly a special moment! On shore, hop aboard Le Petit Train for a ride to the town&apos;s walled fortress area; explore medieval lanes, stroll along the bluff above the harbor, and see the former barracks of the French Foreign Legion.  Your ship charts a course for Ponza this afternoon.  Meals BLD</description>
  <overnight>Cruising aboard Le Ponant</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="6">
  <title>Ponza / Cruise the Mediterranean</title>
  <description>Charming Ponza is fringed with dramatic coves and cliffs, featuring yellow and pink houses.  Fishing boats set out from the 18th&amp;#45;century harbor and vineyards cover the hillsides.  Spend the morning exploring before setting sail for the Amalfi Coast, arriving in the Gulf of Salerno.  Meals BLD</description>
  <overnight>Cruising aboard Le Ponant</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="7">
  <title>Travel the Amalfi Coast / Ravello</title>
  <description>Go ashore for a memorable journey along the Amalfi Coast.  Stop in the town of Amalfi, where you&apos;ll have a guided walking tour and some free time before traveling to Ravello, dramatically overlooking the Bay of Sorrento.  The town has always been a popular gathering spot for artists, musicians, and writers; a guided tour includes a visit to Villa Rufolo, a 13th&amp;#45;century watchtower with a rich Moorish design and spectacular gardens.  Enjoy splendid sea views during a lunch of regional specialties before some time to explore the town of Ravello on your own.  Meals BLD</description>
  <overnight>Cruising aboard Le Ponant</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="8">
  <title>Lipari / Fiery Lava of Stromboli </title>
  <description>Drop anchor in the waters off Lipari, largest of the Aeolian Islands.  A tender takes you ashore for guided exploration of local sights and an optional visit to the archaeological museum.  Weather permitting, take a swim off the stern of your yacht, one of the exclusive pleasures of cruising aboard an intimate small ship.  Sail by Stromboli this evening, the “Black Giant,” one of the few volcanos in the world that is frequently active.  The view of the crimson lava flows from the sea at night is truly unforgettable! Meals BLD</description>
  <overnight>Cruising aboard Le Ponant</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="9">
  <title>Cruise to Sicily / Taormina</title>
  <description>Go ashore at Giardini&amp;#45;Naxos for a memorable visit to Taormina, clinging to the cliffs above the coast of eastern Sicily &amp;#45; stroll the Corso Umberto through Old Town, and take a guided tour of the ancient Greek Theatre, dating back to 2 BC, amidst inspiring views of Mt.  Etna.  Meals BLD</description>
  <overnight>Cruising aboard Le Ponant</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="10">
  <title>Arrive at Valletta, Malta </title>
  <description>Le Ponant sails into the Grand Harbor of Valletta in Malta where you will disembark ship.  Enjoy an orientation tour of Mdina and a coastal drive around St.  Julian&apos;s Bay en route to your hotel.  Then join us for a walking tour of Valletta and a visit to St.  John&apos;s Co&amp;#45;Cathedral.  Malta&apos;s capital city, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is a virtual open&amp;#45;air museum boasting beautiful Baroque architecture.  Tauck&apos;s farewell festivities tonight include cocktails and dinner.  Meals BLD</description>
  <overnight>Hotel Phoenicia Malta, Valletta, Malta</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="11">
  <title>Journey Home</title>
  <description>Tour ends: Valletta, Malta. A transfer is included from Hotel Phoenicia Malta to Malta International Airport. Allow a minimum of 21/2 hours for flight check-in.</description>
  <overnight></overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast</meals>
</itineraryDay>
  </itineraryDetails>
  <highlights>		

7-Night Cruise on Le Ponant ~ Malta ~ Sicily ~ Corsica ~ Amalfi Coast  ~ Monte-Carlo
</highlights>
  <tauckValues>
    <value order="1">All gratuities to Tauck?Director, ship staff and local guides</value><value order="2">Only 60 guests aboard Le Ponant  club-like cruising!</value><value order="3">Private Tauck Shore Excursions  $647 Value!</value><value order="4">Six Mediterranean islands best accessed by small ship  Elba, Corsica, Ponza, Lipari, Sicily and Malta  for unique shore excursions off-the-beaten path</value><value order="5">Exploration of Saint-Paul-de-Vence and a wine tasting on Elba, where Napoleon lived during his exile</value><value order="6">A memorable night sailing by the volcanic island of Stromboli to view its eruptions of molten lava</value><value order="7">Cocktail hour, all-day soft drinks, wine with dinner aboard ship</value><value order="8">Most meals (10 breakfasts, 7 lunches, 9 dinners) on land and at sea</value><value order="9">Service charges, applicable fuel surcharges, taxes, porterage and airport transfers</value>
  </tauckValues>  
  
</tour><tour>
  <sourceId>WR2010</sourceId>
  <title>A Week in ... Rome, Capri, and the Amalfi Coast</title>
  <summary>
    <![CDATA[Discover Italy&apos;s antiquities, architecture, and dramatic scenery from the ruins of Pompeii to cliff-clinging seaside villages, relics of ancient Rome, and Tauck&apos;s after-hours guided visit to the Vatican Museums on Tauck&apos;s one-week journey featuring Rome, Capri and the Amalfi Coast.
]]>
  </summary>
  <description>
    <![CDATA[Explore the storied history and cultural treasures of Pompeii, the Vatican, and the Roman Empire – including Tauck&apos;s exclusive after-hours guided visit to the Vatican Museums
and the Sistine Chapel! Balance architectural landmarks with the
natural beauty of the Isle of Capri&apos;s rugged coastline, and the seaside
villages and cliffs found along the Amalfi Coast. Discoveries include the
Colosseum,
a tour of Pompeii – preserved under volcanic ash for nearly 2,000 years – and sightseeing via convertible car on Capri. Travel by jet boat and high-speed train, enjoy an exclusive lecture on
contemporary Italian society, and catch the views from glorious private
villas on this Rome, Amalfi Coast, and Capri journey.
]]>
  </description>
  <link>http://www.tauck.com/tours/europe-tours/italy-tours/amalfi-coast-wr-2010</link>
  <durationDays>8</durationDays>
  <durationDetails>8 days and 7 nights.</durationDetails>
  <tripType>ESCORTED_TOUR</tripType>
  <brand>TWD</brand>
  <subbrand>Europe</subbrand>
  <gradeRating>ALL_AGES</gradeRating>
  <comfortRating>COMFORTABLE_MIXED</comfortRating>
  <startingLocation>Rome, Italy</startingLocation>
  <prices>
    <price currency="USD">3990</price>
    <priceDetails><![CDATA[All prices are per person in U.S. dollars. ]]></priceDetails>
  </prices>
  <images>
    <image isMain="true">http://tools.tauck.com/Files/ItineraryImages/ListImages/img_WR2010_list.jpg</image>
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  <itinerary>
    <![CDATA[		
    
]]>
  </itinerary>
  <itineraryDetails>
    <itineraryDay day="1">
  <title>Arrive Rome</title>
  <description>Tour begins: 6:00 PM, Hotel Majestic Roma. A transfer is included from Rome’s Leonardo da Vinci Airport in Fiumicino to the Hotel Majestic Roma, on the Via Veneto in the heart of the Eternal City. We invite you to join us for a welcome cocktail reception and dinner tonight.</description>
  <overnight>Hotel Majestic Roma, Rome, Italy</overnight>
  <meals>Dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="2">
  <title>Pompeii / Positano </title>
  <description>Journey from Rome to Pompeii for a guided visit through the remains of the ancient city, frozen in time from the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in AD 79. Continue on your journey through the Campania countryside to the Amalfi Coast. Your accommodations tonight are close to the picturesque town of Positano, nestled on steep cliffs overlooking the Mediterranean Sea. Enjoy an à la carte dinner this evening.</description>
  <overnight>Le Agavi Hotel a Positano, Italy</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="3">
  <title>Amalfi Coast / Ravello</title>
  <description>A drive along the spectacular Amalfi Coast, one of Europe’s most beautiful shorelines, includes views of lush gardens and olive-green slopes, hovering over the clear sea below. Explore Amalfi and visit the Cathedral of St. Andrew, then travel to Ravello for a visit to exquisite Villa Rufolo. Lunch is at a family-run restaurant where the locals – and visiting celebrities – dine; get a real taste of Italy with homemade pastas and seasonal dishes. The rest of the day is free to do as you please and have dinner on your own.</description>
  <overnight>Le Agavi Hotel a Positano, Italy</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="4">
  <title>Sorrento / Isle of Capri</title>
  <description>Arrive in Sorrento for a walking tour and time to explore on your own, then travel by jet boat to the Isle of Capri. Upon arrival, you’re whisked away by convertible taxi to one of the most celebrated hotels in Europe, the Grand Hotel Quisisana, right in the very heart of Capri. Spend two nights enjoying the pleasures of a less-crowded island after the last ferry carrying the day-trippers departs.</description>
  <overnight>Grand Hotel Quisisana, Capri, Italy</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="5">
  <title>Convertibles on Capri</title>
  <description>Touring today is by convertible car, first to Anacapri and beautiful Villa San Michele, built in the 19th century atop the ruins of Capri’s splendid Roman palaces and villas. Next up is a visit to a different villa for a lecture by a noted professor on contemporary Italian society. The remainder of the day is spent as you wish on Capri.</description>
  <overnight>Grand Hotel Quisisana, Capri, Italy</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="6">
  <title>To Rome via High-Speed Train</title>
  <description>Depart idyllic Capri, once again by jet boat, arriving in Naples. Travel first class on the high-speed TAV train back to Rome, this time for two nights on the Via Veneto. Our farewell cocktail reception and dinner will be held this evening; we’re saving your last night in Rome for a once-in-a-lifetime travel experience.*</description>
  <overnight>Hotel Majestic Roma, Rome, Italy</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="7">
  <title>After-Hours Vatican Museums Visit</title>
  <description>Explore Imperial Rome, once capital of the ancient world, on a guided excursion including a visit to the Colosseum, before spending the afternoon on your own. Tonight, a Tauck Exclusive – go “inside” the Vatican Museums and the Sistine Chapel on an after-hours tour!*</description>
  <overnight>Hotel Majestic Roma, Rome, Italy</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="8">
  <title>Ciao, Rome, the Amalfi Coast and the Isle of Capri</title>
  <description>Tauck&apos;s Rome, Capri and Amalfi Coast tour ends in Rome. Fly home anytime. A transfer is included from the Hotel Majestic Roma to Leonardo da Vinci Airport in Fiumicino. Please allow 2 1/2 hours for flight check-in.
</description>
  <overnight></overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast</meals>
</itineraryDay>
  </itineraryDetails>
  <highlights>		
Positano ~ Ravello ~ Pompeii ~ Sorrento ~  Anacapri ~ Naples ~ Vatican City 
</highlights>
  <tauckValues>
    <value order="1">TAUCKS YELLOW ROADS! An unforgettable drive along the Amalfi Coast explores a colorful world of turquoise sea, purple bougainvillea, vine-covered hills, lemon and olive trees  and elegant villas ranging from white to terra cotta to pink</value><value order="2">An after-hours guided tour of the Vatican Museums and the Sistine Chapel  without crowds or long lines</value><value order="3">An exclusive lecture by a noted professor on contemporary Italian society</value><value order="4">VIP sightseeing by convertible cars in Capri and Anacapri</value><value order="5">Airport transfers upon arrival and departure</value><value order="6">15 meals (7 breakfasts, 3 lunches &amp; 5 dinners), service charges, gratuities to local guides, admission fees, taxes and porterage</value>
  </tauckValues>  
  <departureDates>
    <date>
    <day>29</day>
    <month>5</month>
    <year>2010</year>
    <singlesPrice>5897</singlesPrice>
    <doublesPrice>4290</doublesPrice>
    <triplesPrice>4241</triplesPrice>
    <quadsPrice>0</quadsPrice>
    
  </date>
  <date>
    <day>16</day>
    <month>10</month>
    <year>2010</year>
    <singlesPrice>5997</singlesPrice>
    <doublesPrice>4390</doublesPrice>
    <triplesPrice>4341</triplesPrice>
    <quadsPrice>0</quadsPrice>
    
  </date>

</departureDates>

</tour><tour>
  <sourceId>WRS2010</sourceId>
  <title>A Week In... Capri, the Amalfi Coast &amp; Rome</title>
  <summary>
    <![CDATA[This weeklong journey features a Tauck Exclusive, after-hours visit to the Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel, and includes 2 nights on the enchanted Isle of Capri, 2 nights on the Amalfi Coast and 3 nights at a luxury hotel set on the Via Veneto in the center of Rome!
]]>
  </summary>
  <description>
    <![CDATA[A weeklong journey through Southern Italy that includes Rome, the
Amalfi Coast and the enchanting Isle of Capri! One of your most
memorable highlights is certain to be this Tauck Exclusive
– an after-hours visit to the Vatican Museums and the Sistine
Chapel! Travel
via jet boat to and from the Isle of Capri, where you&apos;ll sightsee by
convertible car. Drive along rugged coastlines and seaside
villages, embracing the views from the dramatic cliffs along the
Amalfi Coast. Explore the storied history and cultural treasures of ancient Pompeii; and journey by high-speed train to Rome for visits to the Colosseum, St. Peter&apos;s Basilica and the timeless Vatican Museums. 
]]>
  </description>
  <link>http://www.tauck.com/tours/europe-tours/italy-tours/isle-of-capri-wrs-2010</link>
  <durationDays>8</durationDays>
  <durationDetails>8 days and 7 nights.</durationDetails>
  <tripType></tripType>
  <brand>TWD</brand>
  <subbrand>Europe</subbrand>
  <gradeRating>ALL_AGES</gradeRating>
  <comfortRating>COMFORTABLE_MIXED</comfortRating>
  <startingLocation>Rome, Italy</startingLocation>
  <prices>
    <price currency="USD">4290</price>
    <priceDetails><![CDATA[All prices are per person in U.S. dollars. ]]></priceDetails>
  </prices>
  <images>
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  </images>
  <itinerary>
    <![CDATA[]]>
  </itinerary>
  <itineraryDetails>
    <itineraryDay day="1">
  <title>Arrive Rome</title>
  <description>Tour begins: 6:00 PM, Regina Hotel Baglioni. A transfer is included from Rome’s Leonardo da Vinci Airport at Fiumicino to the Regina Hotel Baglioni, a five-star luxury hotel ideally set on the Via Veneto in the center of Rome. Join us for a welcome cocktail reception and dinner tonight.</description>
  <overnight>Regina Hotel Baglioni, Rome, Italy</overnight>
  <meals>Dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="2">
  <title>Rome to Naples / Via Jet Boat to Capri</title>
  <description>Journey from Rome to the seaside city of Naples, then on to the Isle of Capri today for a two-night stay. Stop for lunch in the town of Capua en route to Naples – capital of the Campania region and one of Italy’s most important cities – where you’ll board a jet boat to the Isle of Capri this afternoon. Upon arrival, you’re whisked away by convertible taxi to one of the most celebrated hotels in Europe – the Grand Hotel Quisisana, set on exclusive Via Camerelle in the heart of Capri, a few steps from the Piazzetta.</description>
  <overnight>Grand Hotel Quisisana, Isle of Capri, Italy</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="3">
  <title>Convertibles on Capri </title>
  <description>Touring today is by private convertible car to Anacapri and beautiful 19th-century Villa San Michele, built atop the ruins of Capri’s Roman palaces and villas. Enjoy an insider’s perspective on contemporary Italian society when you attend a private lecture given by a noted professor. The rest of the day is free to spend as you wish on Capri; enjoy dinner á la carte this evening at your historic grand hotel.</description>
  <overnight>Grand Hotel Quisisana, Isle of Capri, Italy</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="4">
  <title>Ferry to Sorrento / Positano </title>
  <description>Depart Capri by funicular and jet boat, arriving in historic Sorrento for a walking tour and time at leisure. Today’s final destination is Positano, whose colorful homes are nestled on steep cliffs overlooking the Mediterranean Sea.</description>
  <overnight>Le Agavi Hotel a Positano, Italy</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="5">
  <title>Amalfi Coast Drive / Ravello</title>
  <description>One of Europe’s most spectacular coastlines, the Amalfi Coast
rewards with amazing views at every turn. Experience daily life here as you visit Amalfi and Villa Rufolo in cliff-top Ravello, and get a real taste of Italy with lunch at a legendary family-run restaurant favored by locals and celebrities alike.</description>
  <overnight>Le Agavi Hotel a Positano, Italy</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="6">
  <title>Pompeii / TAV to Rome / Vatican Museums</title>
  <description>Travel from Positano to Pompeii this morning, where a guided tour reveals the remains of the ancient city of Pompeii, frozen in time after the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in AD 79. First-class accommodations aboard the TAV train speed you from Naples to Rome for the final two nights of your journey. Tonight, you’ll enjoy a Tauck Exclusive – a special after-hours guided tour of the Vatican Museums that takes you inside the Candelabra and Map Galleries, the Tapestries, and the famed Sistine Chapel – without crowds!</description>
  <overnight>Regina Hotel Baglioni, Rome, Italy</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="7">
  <title>Discovering the Glories of Rome</title>
  <description>Explore the “Eternal City” of Rome – once the virtual capital of most of the ancient world – with guided sightseeing that includes the ruins of the Roman Forum from above, as well as visits to the Colosseum and St. Peter’s Basilica. An afternoon spent as you please in Rome precedes tonight’s farewell reception and dinner at your hotel on the Via Veneto.</description>
  <overnight>Regina Hotel Baglioni, Rome, Italy</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="8">
  <title>Journey Home</title>
  <description>Tour ends: Rome. Fly home anytime. A transfer from the Regina Hotel Baglioni is included to Rome’s Leonardo da Vinci Airport in Fiumicino. You should allow a minimum of 3 hours for flight check-in.</description>
  <overnight></overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast</meals>
</itineraryDay>
  </itineraryDetails>
  <highlights></highlights>
  <tauckValues>
    <value order="1">TAUCK’S YELLOW ROADS! An unforgettable drive along the Amalfi Coast explores a colorful world of turquoise sea, purple bougainvillea, vine-covered hills, lemon and olive trees – and elegant villas ranging from white to terra cotta to pink</value><value order="2">An after-hours guided tour of the Vatican Museums and the Sistine Chapel – without crowds or long lines</value><value order="3">An exclusive lecture by a noted professor on contemporary Italian society</value><value order="4">VIP sightseeing by convertible cars in Capri and Anacapri</value><value order="5">Airport transfers upon arrival and departure</value><value order="6">15 meals (7 breakfasts, 3 lunches &amp; 5 dinners), service charges, gratuities to local guides, admission fees, taxes and porterage</value>
  </tauckValues>  
  <departureDates>
    <date>
    <day>19</day>
    <month>6</month>
    <year>2010</year>
    <singlesPrice>5897</singlesPrice>
    <doublesPrice>4290</doublesPrice>
    <triplesPrice>4241</triplesPrice>
    <quadsPrice>0</quadsPrice>
    
  </date>
  <date>
    <day>18</day>
    <month>9</month>
    <year>2010</year>
    <singlesPrice>5997</singlesPrice>
    <doublesPrice>4390</doublesPrice>
    <triplesPrice>4341</triplesPrice>
    <quadsPrice>0</quadsPrice>
    
  </date>
  <date>
    <day>25</day>
    <month>9</month>
    <year>2010</year>
    <singlesPrice>5997</singlesPrice>
    <doublesPrice>4390</doublesPrice>
    <triplesPrice>4341</triplesPrice>
    <quadsPrice>0</quadsPrice>
    
  </date>

</departureDates>

</tour><tour>
  <sourceId>WS2010</sourceId>
  <title>A Week In... Spain</title>
  <summary>
    <![CDATA[Witness Spain&apos;s diverse cultural heritage on Tauck&apos;s Spain vacation that visits Barcelona, Granada, Ronda, Seville, Córdoba, and Madrid. Enjoy a private flamenco performance, a horse-drawn carriage ride in Seville, and a guided tour of Madrid&apos;s Museo del Prado.
]]>
  </summary>
  <description>
    <![CDATA[Tauck&apos;s one-week Spain vacation reveals the strong impact of Moorish as well as Jewish and Christian influences on the history of Spain. Discover the country&apos;s rich cultural heritage in Barcelona, Granada, Ronda, Seville and Andalucía, Córdoba, and Madrid. Enjoy a private flamenco performance... a horse-drawn carriage ride to Seville&apos;s famous cathedral... a guided tour of Madrid&apos;s Museo del Prado... an included on-tour flight from Barcelona to Granada, and much more. If you have just one week for a Spain vacation, this should be it!
]]>
  </description>
  <link>http://www.tauck.com/tours/europe-tours/spain-tours/spain-vacation-ws-2010</link>
  <durationDays>8</durationDays>
  <durationDetails>8 days and 7 nights.</durationDetails>
  <tripType>ESCORTED_TOUR</tripType>
  <brand>TWD</brand>
  <subbrand>Europe</subbrand>
  <gradeRating>ALL_AGES</gradeRating>
  <comfortRating>COMFORTABLE_MIXED</comfortRating>
  <startingLocation>Barcelona, Spain</startingLocation>
  <prices>
    <price currency="USD">3790</price>
    <priceDetails><![CDATA[All prices are per person in U.S. dollars. ]]></priceDetails>
  </prices>
  <images>
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    <image>http://tools.tauck.com/Files/ItineraryImages/altImages/WS2010_alt2.jpg</image>
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  </images>
  <itinerary>
    <![CDATA[]]>
  </itinerary>
  <itineraryDetails>
    <itineraryDay day="1">
  <title>Arrive Barcelona</title>
  <description>Tour begins: 6:00 PM, Le Méridien Barcelona. A transfer is included from Barcelona Airport to Le Méridien Barcelona. Join us tonight for a welcome cocktail reception and dinner at your hotel, ideally situated on one of Europe’s most celebrated streets – Las Ramblas, Barcelona’s iconic, tree-lined pedestrian thoroughfare that serves as the Catalonian capital’s leisure and entertainment hub.</description>
  <overnight>Le Méridien Barcelona, Spain</overnight>
  <meals>Dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="2">
  <title>Experience Barcelona</title>
  <description>Walk along Las Ramblas to the Boquería and Plaça del Pi. Explore the Gothic Quarter; see Plaça Nova and the city’s 13th-century cathedral. Drive to seaside Montjuic, site of the 1992 Olympics, and visit Gaudí’s still-unfinished la Sagrada Família. The rest of the day is free.</description>
  <overnight>Le Méridien Barcelona, Spain</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="3">
  <title>Fly to Granada</title>
  <description>A flight from Barcelona brings you to Granada, set within the foothills of the snow-capped Sierra Nevada. Tour the famed 14th-century Alhambra, built by Moorish sultans, where you’ll see the Royal Palace and the Generalife; your hotel is just steps from the Palace.</description>
  <overnight>Hotel Alhambra Palace, Granada, Spain</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="4">
  <title>Ronda / Andalucía </title>
  <description>Travel to cliff-top Ronda for a tour with a local guide; see its centuries-old bullring, Moorish architecture, and spectacular views of Tajo Gorge. Following lunch, journey on backcountry roads through the whitewashed villages of Andalucía to Seville; tonight you will learn the secrets of the flamenco at a private show.</description>
  <overnight>Hotel Alfonso XIII, Seville, Spain</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="5">
  <title>Sightsee Seville</title>
  <description>Take an orientation tour of southern Spain’s cultural capital, dating back nearly 2,000 years, with your local guide. A horse-drawn carriage transports you to Seville Cathedral, among the largest Gothic cathedrals in the world, with its Giralda bell tower and the tomb of Columbus. Explore Barrio Santa Cruz and the former Jewish Quarter.</description>
  <overnight>Hotel Alfonso XIII, Seville, Spain</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="6">
  <title>Córdoba / Madrid </title>
  <description>Journey to Córdoba, where a walking tour with a local guide takes you through centuries of history; visit the Jewish Quarter and the ornate 8th-century mosque turned cathedral, La Mezquita. Ride the high-speed AVE train – in Preferente class – to Madrid for a two-night stay.</description>
  <overnight>The Westin Palace, Madrid, Spain</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="7">
  <title>Explore Madrid, Spain’s Capital City</title>
  <description>Begin a glorious day in Madrid with a guided visit to Museo del Prado, one of the world’s most celebrated art museums. A city sightseeing tour is up next, giving you a good look at some of Madrid’s landmarks – see Palacio de Oriente, the opulent Royal Palace; grand avenues; and El Parque del Buen Retiro. Join us tonight for a cocktail reception and farewell dinner featuring traditional Castilian entertainment.</description>
  <overnight>The Westin Palace, Madrid, Spain</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="8">
  <title>Journey Home</title>
  <description>Tour ends: Madrid. Fly home anytime. A transfer is included from The Westin Palace, Madrid to Barajas Airport; allow 2 1/2 hours for flight check-in.</description>
  <overnight></overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast</meals>
</itineraryDay>
  </itineraryDetails>
  <highlights>		
Barcelona ~ Granada ~ Ronda ~ Andalucía ~ Seville ~ Córdoba ~ Madrid 
</highlights>
  <tauckValues>
    <value order="1">TAUCKS YELLOW ROADS! Journey off-the-beaten path, from Granada in the Sierra Nevada foothills to Rondas dramatic gorges to the whitewashed villages of Andaluca</value><value order="2">On-tour flight from Barcelona to Granada</value><value order="3">A private flamenco performance during your two-night stay in Seville</value><value order="4">Horse-drawn carriage ride to the magnificent cathedral in Seville  one of the largest Roman Catholic churches in the world, and the final resting place of Christopher Columbus</value><value order="5">A guided tour of Madrids Museo del Prado, featuring many masterworks of Spanish art, with a local expert</value><value order="6">Airport transfers upon arrival and departure</value><value order="7">14 meals (7 breakfasts, 3 lunches, 4 dinners), service charges, gratuities to local guides, admission fees, taxes and porterage</value>
  </tauckValues>  
  <departureDates>
    <date>
    <day>5</day>
    <month>9</month>
    <year>2010</year>
    <singlesPrice>4994</singlesPrice>
    <doublesPrice>3790</doublesPrice>
    <triplesPrice>3685</triplesPrice>
    <quadsPrice>0</quadsPrice>
    
  </date>
  <date>
    <day>10</day>
    <month>10</month>
    <year>2010</year>
    <singlesPrice>4754</singlesPrice>
    <doublesPrice>3790</doublesPrice>
    <triplesPrice>3685</triplesPrice>
    <quadsPrice>0</quadsPrice>
    
  </date>
  <date>
    <day>17</day>
    <month>10</month>
    <year>2010</year>
    <singlesPrice>4994</singlesPrice>
    <doublesPrice>3790</doublesPrice>
    <triplesPrice>3685</triplesPrice>
    <quadsPrice>0</quadsPrice>
    
  </date>
  <date>
    <day>24</day>
    <month>10</month>
    <year>2010</year>
    <singlesPrice>4994</singlesPrice>
    <doublesPrice>3790</doublesPrice>
    <triplesPrice>3685</triplesPrice>
    <quadsPrice>0</quadsPrice>
    
  </date>

</departureDates>

</tour><tour>
  <sourceId>WV2010</sourceId>
  <title>Warsaw, Budapest, Vienna &amp; Prague</title>
  <summary>
    <![CDATA[Our two-week Eastern Europe and Poland tour includes a visit to medieval Cracow, the memorial at Auschwitz, a private Chopin recital in Warsaw, a special lunch with Gypsy music and a private dinner cruise on the Danube in Budapest, a private concert in Vienna, and a special evening at a palace in Prague. Select Small Group departure dates available with no more than 26 Tauck guests – and special singles savings departures available!
]]>
  </summary>
  <description>
    <![CDATA[Become immersed in culture among the palaces, castles, art, architecture, and music of Old World Europe on this 2-week Eastern Europe and Poland tour. Enjoy Strauss and Mozart at a private palace concert in Vienna... a piano recital of Chopin&apos;s music in Warsaw... a private lunch with Gypsy music and a private dinner cruise on the Danube in Budapest... a strudel-making demonstration in Vienna... a special private farewell evening at Lobkowicz Palace in Prague Castle and much more. 
]]>
  </description>
  <link>http://www.tauck.com/tours/europe-tours/central-and-eastern-europe-tours/poland-tour-wv-2010</link>
  <durationDays>14</durationDays>
  <durationDetails>14 days and 13 nights.</durationDetails>
  <tripType>ESCORTED_TOUR</tripType>
  <brand>TWD</brand>
  <subbrand>Europe</subbrand>
  <gradeRating>ALL_AGES</gradeRating>
  <comfortRating>COMFORTABLE_MIXED</comfortRating>
  <startingLocation>Warsaw, Poland</startingLocation>
  <prices>
    <price currency="USD">4990</price>
    <priceDetails><![CDATA[All prices are per person in U.S. dollars. ]]></priceDetails>
  </prices>
  <images>
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  </images>
  <itinerary>
    <![CDATA[]]>
  </itinerary>
  <itineraryDetails>
    <itineraryDay day="1">
  <title>Arrive Warsaw</title>
  <description>Tour begins: 6:00 PM, Le Méridien Bristol, Warsaw. A transfer is included from Warsaw Frederic Chopin Airport to your hotel, Le Méridien Bristol, Warsaw. Join us for a welcome reception and dinner tonight.</description>
  <overnight>Le Méridien Bristol, Warsaw, Poland</overnight>
  <meals>Dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="2">
  <title>Explore Warsaw</title>
  <description>A city tour includes the Palace of Culture, Radziwill Palace, the Grand Theatre and Constitution Square, followed by a walking tour through 13th- and 14th-century Old Town, and a visit to the Jewish Ghetto Memorial. Your afternoon is free to explore more of Poland’s capital city at your leisure. Attend a memorable private piano recital featuring the music of Frederic Chopin in the early evening.</description>
  <overnight>Le Méridien Bristol, Warsaw, Poland</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="3">
  <title>Across Poland to Cracow / Wieliczka</title>
  <description>Travel through the heart of Poland to ancient Cracow, considered one of the finest medieval cities in Europe and, approximately 1,000 years ago, the capital city of Poland. After lunch, see Wawel Castle, the residence of Polish kings for five centuries, and visit Wawel Cathedral. If you wish, join us on an excursion to Wieliczka for a visit to a salt mine dating back to the Middle Ages. Throughout the centuries, miners have carved figures, altarpieces and chandeliers out of the salt walls, earning the mine designation as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Enjoy an à la carte dinner in your hotel this evening.</description>
  <overnight>Sheraton Krakow Hotel, Cracow, Poland</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="4">
  <title>Explore Cracow / Auschwitz</title>
  <description>A choice of sightseeing in Cracow this morning includes a tour of the Kazimierz, the former Jewish Quarter (holidays permitting), or a guided walk through Old Town highlighting the Jagiellonian University. The afternoon is also your choice – spend it at leisure in historic Cracow, or journey to the poignant memorial and museum at Auschwitz, forty miles southwest of the city.</description>
  <overnight>Sheraton Krakow Hotel, Cracow, Poland</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="5">
  <title>Tatra Mountains / Danube Cruise</title>
  <description>Travel through the scenic Tatra Mountains, located in both Slovakia and Poland, en route to Hungary, stopping for lunch in Slovakia. Arrive in Budapest, often referred to as the Paris of the East, where your modern luxury hotel towers over the city center. Enjoy dinner accompanied by Gypsy music at a local restaurant, then join us for after-dinner drinks aboard a private Tauck cruise on the Danube, with inspirational views of the city’s architecture.</description>
  <overnight>Kempinski Hotel Corvinus Budapest, Hungary</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="6">
  <title>The Architecture of Pest </title>
  <description>The Danube River divides Budapest into two distinct areas. Today’s sightseeing is through Pest, sprawling along the eastern banks of the Danube. View the city’s embassy district, City Park, Andrassy Avenue and historic Heroes’ Square; visit the State Opera House, St. Stephen’s Basilica and the synagogue at Dohány (holidays permitting). Dinner tonight is à la carte at the Kempinski Hotel.</description>
  <overnight>Kempinski Hotel Corvinus Budapest, Hungary</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="7">
  <title>Sightseeing in Buda / Castle Hill</title>
  <description>Hungary’s neo-Gothic Parliament building is an icon of the Budapest skyline. Visit it this morning, then continue your sightseeing in the Buda section, where Castle Hill, with its quaint cobbled streets, sits on a hill overlooking the Danube’s western bank. Go inside Gothic Matthias Church, where the last two Hungarian kings were crowned, and see Fishermen’s Bastion. After lunch, check out the offerings at Central Market Hall with a local guide; if you wish, enjoy complimentary use of the spa at your hotel this afternoon.</description>
  <overnight>Kempinski Hotel Corvinus Budapest, Hungary</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="8">
  <title>On to Vienna / Schönbrunn Palace</title>
  <description>Your journey continues to Austria and the majestic city of Vienna, capital of the Habsburg empire for centuries. Upon arrival, view the art of making Vienna’s delectable strüdel – with a memorable tasting – in the kitchens of Schönbrunn Palace, the lavish summer residence of Austria’s emperors, built to rival Versailles. Have lunch at the palace and tour the grand State Apartments. Drive along the Ringstrasse en route to one of the most celebrated hotels in Europe – Hotel Bristol, Vienna – where you’ll spend the next three nights.</description>
  <overnight>Hotel Bristol, Vienna, Austria</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="9">
  <title>Schatzkammer / Fine Arts Museum</title>
  <description>Following a walking tour through the courtyard of the Hofburg (now Austria’s presidential residence), you’ll explore the palace’s Imperial Treasury (Schatzkammer), displaying precious crowns, relics and other artifacts of the Holy Roman and Austrian empires. Later, Tauck takes you on a guided visit to Vienna’s renowned Kunsthistorisches (Museum of Fine Arts).</description>
  <overnight>Hotel Bristol, Vienna, Austria</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="10">
  <title>Vienna at Leisure / Private Concert</title>
  <description>After a full day at leisure to pursue what interests you most in Austria’s capital, join us tonight for dinner, followed by a private classical music concert at a historic palace.</description>
  <overnight>Hotel Bristol, Vienna, Austria</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="11">
  <title>To Prague via Bratislava, Slovakia</title>
  <description>Depart Vienna and travel to Bratislava for a guided tour of this ancient city, lunch and a lecture on the evolution of the Slovak Republic. Continue to Prague, one of Europe’s best-preserved capitals, for a three-night stay at The Augustine, Prague, a true gem in the city’s heart. Walk through Old Town for a view of the famous astronomical clock, and stroll along Charles Bridge, lined with centuries-old statues.</description>
  <overnight>Kempinski Hybernská Prague, Czech Republic</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="12">
  <title>Visit Prague’s Castle Quarter</title>
  <description>A city tour of the Czech capital reveals Prague’s Hradcany (Castle) district, where magnificent palaces, museums and monasteries surround 1,000-year-old Prague Castle. Explore its historic halls and courtyards; visit the stunning Cathedral of St. Vitus; and enjoy a Tauck Exclusive – a private guided tour of the Baroque libraries of Strahov Monastery. The remainder of the day is free to spend as you like.</description>
  <overnight>Kempinski Hybernská Prague, Czech Republic</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="13">
  <title>Sights and Sounds of Prague</title>
  <description>Prague sightseeing today begins with a walking tour of Wenceslas Square and a visit to the Estates Theatre. Then, choose either an architectural tour of the city, including visits to the Town Hall and the splendid Art-Nouveau Municipal House, or a tour of the Josefov District, Prague’s Jewish Quarter – see the Jewish Cemetery and the Old-New, Pinkus and Maisel synagogues (holidays permitting). Tonight, join us for a very special evening at Lobkowicz Palace at Prague Castle, including a palace tour and a gala farewell dinner.</description>
  <overnight>Kempinski Hybernská Prague, Czech Republic</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="14">
  <title>Journey Home</title>
  <description>Tour ends: Prague. Fly home anytime. A transfer is included from The Augustine, Prague to Ruzyne Int’l Airport. Allow a minimum of 2 1/2 hours for flight check-in.</description>
  <overnight></overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast</meals>
</itineraryDay>
  </itineraryDetails>
  <highlights>		Czestochowa ~ Cracow ~ Slovakia ~ Danube River ~ Hradcany
</highlights>
  <tauckValues>
    <value order="1">TAUCK’S YELLOW ROADS! Authentic cultural discoveries as you travel from Poland to Hungary, from the amazing salt mine in Wieliczka to lunch in a Slovakian village in the scenic Tatra Mountains</value><value order="2">Special evening at Lobkowicz Palace in Prague Castle, featuring a private tour of the palace’s “Princely Collections” exhibit, a reception and a gala dinner</value><value order="3">Private piano recital in Warsaw celebrating the music of Frederick Chopin</value><value order="4">A special dinner with Gypsy music followed by a private Danube River cocktail cruise in Budapest</value><value order="5">Strüdel-making demonstration in Vienna</value><value order="6">Airport transfers upon arrival and departure</value><value order="7">29 meals (13 breakfasts, 6 lunches &amp; 10 dinners), service charges, gratuities to local guides, admission fees, taxes and porterage</value>
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</tour><tour>
  <sourceId>YA2010</sourceId>
  <title>Alaska: Call of the Wild</title>
  <summary>
    <![CDATA[		Family FYI: Did you know that the high-tech outdoor treasure-hunting game called &quot;Geocaching&quot; is played with a GPS system? Tauck Bridges&apos; family Alaska tour takes you jet boating into the wilderness, flightseeing over Denali National Park, visiting Alaskan Huskies in training and more!
]]>
  </summary>
  <description>
    <![CDATA[The wild wonders of America&apos;s 49th state are calling to you on Tauck
Bridges&apos; family Alaska tour by land,
air, and sea! Flightsee near Mount McKinley... ride the rails
with the Alaska Railroad... go kayaking and river rafting in the Kenai Peninsula... hike into the
bush to see how early trappers lived... meet the huskies that pull
Alaska&apos;s famous dog sleds... encounter Alaska&apos;s diverse wildlife with
naturalist guides... tackle a high-tech treasure hunt with your family... visit orphaned animals being rehabilitated at the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center... explore the wilderness by jet boat... pan for gold... take a cruise to see a glacier and perform hands-on marine experiments in Prince William Sound, and more! You&apos;ll see mighty mountains,
blue-white glaciers, rocky coastal shores and a rich variety of arctic
wildlife during your family&apos;s memorable Alaska tour.
]]>
  </description>
  <link>http://family-travel.tauck.com/tours/usa-tours/alaska-vacations/alaska-tour-ya-2010</link>
  <durationDays>8</durationDays>
  <durationDetails>8 days and 7 nights.</durationDetails>
  <tripType>ESCORTED_TOUR</tripType>
  <brand>Bridges</brand>
  <subbrand>Bridges</subbrand>
  <gradeRating>ALL_AGES</gradeRating>
  <comfortRating>COMFORTABLE_MIXED</comfortRating>
  <startingLocation>Anchorage, Alaska</startingLocation>
  <prices>
    <price currency="USD">3275</price>
    <priceDetails><![CDATA[All prices are per person in U.S. dollars. ]]></priceDetails>
  </prices>
  <images>
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  <itinerary>
    <![CDATA[Discover Alaska by land, sea and air, the best way to truly experience the natural treasures of our last frontier. Stay in wilderness lodges in the heart of Alaska, enjoying a variety of included activities that are fun for every age and generation. See wildlife on rafting excursions; try to land the “big one” in an Alaskan river; and engage with mushers, prospectors and naturalists who make every day an adventure on Alaska: Call of the Wild!

Jet boat down a mountain river in Alaska’s wilderness interior. Learn how Alaskan sled dogs are trained to race in the Iditarod. Soar over the slopes of Mt. McKinley on a flightseeing excursion, reigning over Denali National Park. Go kayaking, river rafting or wilderness hiking in the Kenai region. Visit the Alaska SeaLife Center, for up-close encounters with puffins, octopuses and sea lions. Cruise through the Kenai Fjords where Alaskan wildlife, like bears and moose, may be spotted along the shore. Have lunch with a prospector at a historic gold mine.

Day 1 – Arrive Anchorage, gateway to Alaska
Tour begins: 6:00 PM at the Hotel Captain Cook. Upon arrival, a transfer is included from Anchorage International Airport to the Hotel Captain Cook in the heart of the city. Meet your fellow explorers at our welcome dinner tonight at your hotel. Meals D

Day 2 – Jet boat adventure and treasure hunting
First, it’s all aboard the most technologically advanced river jet boat* in Alaska – specially designed to navigate once-inaccessible mountain rivers – for a ride into the heart of the wilderness. Your local naturalist guide will help you spot bald eagles, moose and maybe even bears along your river route. Then put on your hiking shoes as you explore the backwoods of “bush” Alaska. Visit a fur trapper’s cabin to see firsthand how these hardy outdoorsmen lived in this challenging environment at the turn of the 20th century, and try to imagine yourself in their shoes – including those web-footed snowshoes, a must for winter survival! Continue on to the Mt. McKinley Princess Wilderness Lodge near the Alaska Range for a two-night stay. Activities today include a high-tech treasure-hunting game of “Geocaching.” Test your family’s skills at finding hidden caches with your handheld Global Positioning System (GPS) by following online GPS coordinates, a great way for families to explore the outdoors in a friendly team-based competition for Tauck Bridges guests only. Meals BLD

Day 3 – Meet Alaskan Huskies and a “musher”
Dog sledding is popular as both a sport and a practical form of transportation in Alaska’s snowy interior. Today, meet an Alaskan “musher” and future sled dogs on a visit to a summer training facility for the world-famous Iditarod race; see how these amazing dogs are trained, taught voice commands and fed along the race trail, and learn how to harness and hitch up a dog. A day in the life of the locals continues with a guided wilderness hike around Byers Lake and a campfire later tonight. Meals B

Day 4 – Flightsee near Mount McKinley
Weather permitting, get set for a breathtaking flightseeing journey over the foothills of Denali National Park for a chance to view the ice-clad summit of Mt. McKinley. Back on land, head to Kenai Peninsula, fondly known as “Alaska’s playground.” Spend the next two nights at the Kenai Princess Wilderness Lodge tucked into the pristine Chugach National Forest in Cooper Landing. Meals BD

Day 5 – Wilderness fun on the Kenai Peninsula
The Kenai Peninsula offers endless opportunities for outdoor fun. A choice of included activities today – a 5-mile guided wilderness hike, a kayaking adventure* or a river-rafting float trip* – invite you to explore the region your way. Fishing is also available on the world-renowned Kenai River at an additional charge. Meals BLD

Day 6 – Natural riches of the Alaskan coast 
Visit the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center on the shores of Turnagain Arm this morning. See orphaned animals that are being rehabilitated here, from moose and musk ox to bald eagles and grizzly bears. At the turn of the 20th century, gold miners flocked to this area in search of untold riches; meet a prospector, pan for gold and have a barbecue lunch at historic Crow Creek Mine. The rest of the day is free to enjoy resort activities. Meals BL

Day 7 – Explore by rail and sea today
It’s all aboard a self-propelled railroad car along the scenic Turnagain Arm to Whittier where a boat is waiting to take you on an exciting glacier adventure cruise with an expert wildlife guide. Glide by thundering waterfalls and two spectacular tidewater glaciers, touch a piece of a real glacier and participate in hands-on marine experiments with the Captain and crew. Share memories – and addresses – at our farewell dinner tonight back at the hotel. Meals BLD

Day 8 – Journey home
Tour ends: Anchorage, Alaska. Fly home anytime. A transfer from Hotel Alyeska to Anchorage International Airport is included. Allow a minimum of 2 hours for flight check-in. Meals B

]]>
  </itinerary>
  <itineraryDetails>
    <itineraryDay day="1">
  <title>Arrive Anchorage, gateway to Alaska</title>
  <description>Tour begins: 6:00 PM at the Hotel Captain Cook. Upon arrival, a transfer is included from Anchorage International Airport to the Hotel Captain Cook in the heart of the city. Meet your fellow explorers at our welcome dinner tonight at your hotel.</description>
  <overnight>Hotel Captain Cook, Anchorage, AK</overnight>
  <meals>Dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="2">
  <title>Jet boat adventure and treasure hunting</title>
  <description>First, it’s all aboard the most technologically advanced river jet boat* in Alaska – specially designed to navigate once-inaccessible mountain rivers – for a ride into the heart of the wilderness. Your local naturalist guide will help you spot bald eagles, moose and maybe even bears along your river route. Then put on your hiking shoes as you explore the backwoods of “bush” Alaska. Visit a fur trapper’s cabin to see firsthand how these hardy outdoorsmen lived in this challenging environment at the turn of the 20th century, and try to imagine yourself in their shoes – including those web-footed snowshoes, a must for winter survival! Continue on to the Mt. McKinley Princess Wilderness Lodge near the Alaska Range for a two-night stay. Activities today include a high-tech treasure-hunting game of “Geocaching.” Test your family’s skills at finding hidden caches with your handheld Global Positioning System (GPS) by following online GPS coordinates, a great way for families to explore the outdoors in a friendly team-based competition for Tauck Bridges guests only.</description>
  <overnight>Mt. McKinley Princess Wilderness Lodge, Trapper Creek, AK</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="3">
  <title>Meet Alaskan Huskies and a &quot;musher&quot;</title>
  <description>Dog sledding is popular as both a sport and a practical form of transportation in Alaska’s snowy interior. Today, meet an Alaskan “musher” and future sled dogs on a visit to a summer training facility for the world-famous Iditarod race; see how these amazing dogs are trained, taught voice commands and fed along the race trail, and learn how to harness and hitch up a dog. A day in the life of the locals continues with a guided wilderness hike around Byers Lake and a campfire later tonight.</description>
  <overnight>Mt. McKinley Princess Wilderness Lodge, Trapper Creek, AK</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="4">
  <title>Flightsee near Mount McKinley</title>
  <description>Weather permitting, get set for a breathtaking flightseeing journey over the foothills of Denali National Park for a chance to view the ice-clad summit of Mt. McKinley. Back on land, head to Kenai Peninsula, fondly known as “Alaska’s playground.” Spend the next two nights at the Kenai Princess Wilderness Lodge tucked into the pristine Chugach National Forest in Cooper Landing.</description>
  <overnight>Kenai Princess Wilderness Lodge, Cooper Landing, AK</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="5">
  <title>Wilderness fun on the Kenai Peninsula</title>
  <description>The Kenai Peninsula offers endless opportunities for outdoor fun. A choice of included activities today – a 5-mile guided wilderness hike, a kayaking adventure* or a river-rafting float trip* – invite you to explore the region your way. Fishing is also available on the world-renowned Kenai River at an additional charge.</description>
  <overnight>Kenai Princess Wilderness Lodge, Cooper Landing, AK</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="6">
  <title>Natural riches of the Alaskan coast</title>
  <description>Visit the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center on the shores of Turnagain Arm this morning. See orphaned animals that are being rehabilitated here, from moose and musk ox to bald eagles and grizzly bears. At the turn of the 20th century, gold miners flocked to this area in search of untold riches; meet a prospector, pan for gold and have a barbecue lunch at historic Crow Creek Mine. The rest of the day is free to enjoy resort activities. </description>
  <overnight>The Hotel Alyeska, Girdwood, AK</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="7">
  <title>Explore by rail and sea today</title>
  <description>It’s all aboard a self-propelled railroad car along the scenic Turnagain Arm to Whittier where a boat is waiting to take you on an exciting glacier adventure cruise with an expert wildlife guide. Glide by thundering waterfalls and two spectacular tidewater glaciers, touch a piece of a real glacier and participate in hands-on marine experiments with the Captain and crew. Share memories – and addresses – at our farewell dinner tonight back at the hotel.</description>
  <overnight>The Hotel Alyeska, Girdwood, AK</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="8">
  <title>Journey Home</title>
  <description>Tour ends: Anchorage, Alaska. Fly home anytime. A transfer from Hotel Alyeska to Anchorage International Airport is included. Allow a minimum of 2 hours for flight check-in.</description>
  <overnight></overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast</meals>
</itineraryDay>
  </itineraryDetails>
  <highlights>
		
				
Anchorage ~ Jet Boat Ride ~ Flightseeing ~ Alaskan Sled Dogs ~ Kenai Peninsula ~ Alaska SeaLife Center ~ Kenai Fjords Cruise ~ Alyeska Resort ~ Historic Gold Mine ~ Whitewater Rafting

		
</highlights>
  <tauckValues>
    <value order="1">Jet boat ride in bush Alaska, a look inside a fur trappers cabin and a native Alaskan cultural presentation</value><value order="2">Geocaching, an interactive treasure-hunting competition, at Trapper Creek</value><value order="3">Visit with a local musher to learn about Alaskan sled dogs in training for the world-famous Iditarod race</value><value order="4">Flightseeing over spectacular wilderness terrain</value><value order="5">Kayaking, river rafting and hiking in the Kenai Peninsula</value><value order="6">Visit to the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center and gold panning at Crow Creek Mine</value><value order="7">Rail journey, glacier cruise and hands-on marine experiments in wildlife-rich Prince William Sound</value><value order="8">16 meals (7 breakfasts, 4 lunches, 5 dinners)</value><value order="9">All gratuities to Tauck Director, local guides &amp; drivers; service charges, taxes, porterage, and airport transfers</value>
  </tauckValues>  
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    <date>
    <day>12</day>
    <month>6</month>
    <year>2010</year>
    <singlesPrice>4525</singlesPrice>
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    <triplesPrice>3386</triplesPrice>
    <quadsPrice>3275</quadsPrice>
    
  </date>
  <date>
    <day>26</day>
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    <year>2010</year>
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  <date>
    <day>10</day>
    <month>7</month>
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  </date>
  <date>
    <day>17</day>
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    <year>2010</year>
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  <date>
    <day>31</day>
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    <year>2010</year>
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  <date>
    <day>21</day>
    <month>8</month>
    <year>2010</year>
    <singlesPrice>4525</singlesPrice>
    <doublesPrice>3590</doublesPrice>
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    <quadsPrice>3275</quadsPrice>
    
  </date>

</departureDates>

</tour><tour>
  <sourceId>YC2010</sourceId>
  <title>Red Rocks &amp; Painted Canyons</title>
  <summary>
    <![CDATA[		Family FYI: Did you know that after the Glen Canyon Dam was built, it took the Colorado River 17 years to fill Lake Powell? Have fun exploring Grand Canyon, Bryce Canyon and Zion national parks from classic inside-the-park lodges – plus Lake Powell, Sedona and Las Vegas – with your family on the perfect Utah, Nevada and Arizona vacation.
]]>
  </summary>
  <description>
    <![CDATA[Share the wonders of nature&apos;s handiwork with
your family on this enchanting Utah, Nevada and
Arizona vacation. See the sun
rise over the Grand Canyon with a stay at an inside-the-park lodge right on the rim... discover the red-rock Western town of Sedona... float along the Colorado River on a raft... flightsee over
Rainbow Bridge... explore the Lake Powell area by
land via four-wheel-drive vehicle to Antelope Canyon,
or on a boat cruise... view Bryce Canyon&apos;s famous hoodoos and ride a horse or mule along its scenic
trails... and take a hike at Zion National Park!
]]>
  </description>
  <link>http://family-travel.tauck.com/tours/usa-tours/western-usa-travel/arizona-vacation-yc-2010</link>
  <durationDays>8</durationDays>
  <durationDetails>8 days and 7 nights.</durationDetails>
  <tripType>ESCORTED_TOUR</tripType>
  <brand>Bridges</brand>
  <subbrand>Bridges</subbrand>
  <gradeRating>ALL_AGES</gradeRating>
  <comfortRating>COMFORTABLE_MIXED</comfortRating>
  <startingLocation>Phoenix, Arizona</startingLocation>
  <prices>
    <price currency="USD">2531</price>
    <priceDetails><![CDATA[All prices are per person in U.S. dollars. ]]></priceDetails>
  </prices>
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  <itinerary>
    <![CDATA[		Discover a twenty-room “castle” built into the cliffs by prehistoric Sinagua Indians. Spend the night at the Grand Canyon, over one mile deep and 277 miles long. Flightsee over the secret worlds of Lake Powell, before exploring them up-close by 4-wheel drive vehicle or boat. Raft through Glen Canyon on the scenic Colorado River. See the real-life western setting of famous cowboy movies in Kanab, Utah. Saddle up for a trail ride in Bryce Canyon. Hit the hiking trail in Zion National Park, through pink-colored gorges and canyons dating back millions of years

Day 1 – Arrive Phoenix, Arizona
Tour begins: JW Marriott Desert Ridge Resort &amp; Spa at 5:30 PM. A transfer is included from Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport to the JW Marriott Desert Ridge Resort &amp; Spa. This luxury resort offers many vacation amenities for the entire family, such as golf, swimming and tennis, as well as the Revive Spa, inspired by the reviving powers of water. Other features include a grand lobby, splashing fountains, sparkling waterways and palm-lined pathways! Join your fellow adventurers at our welcome reception and dinner tonight. Meals D

Day 2 – Red Rock Country &amp; the Grand Canyon
Visit the beautiful town of Sedona, surrounded by towering red-rock formations that were often filmed for classic western movies. The scenery you’ll see on this journey is always awe-inspiring, but nothing can compare to the Grand Canyon, over one mile deep and 277 miles long. Geologists say that half of the earth’s history is represented in the canyon’s rocks, terraced buttes and mesas. Spend the night near the canyon’s rim in the heart of Grand Canyon National Park, giving you an opportunity to enjoy nature’s masterpiece after the day’s crowds depart – sure to be a highlight. Dine at your choice of restaurants this evening. Meals BD

Day 3 – Explore the East Rim of the Grand Canyon 
Seeing the sun rise – and set – in the Grand Canyon is an eye-opening experience that will long be remembered and cherished by families of every age; join us for a sunrise hike along the rim of the canyon today, a great time to spot mule deer and squirrels in the cactus-studded landscape. Take a driving tour of the East Rim as you depart the Grand Canyon this afternoon en route to Page, Arizona. Vista stops along the way offer different perspectives of the canyon. Spend the next two nights at a resort nestled on the shores of Lake Powell in Glen Canyon National Recreation Area. Meals BD

Day 4 – Flightsee over Rainbow Bridge &amp; Lake Powell
As the world’s largest natural bridge, Rainbow Bridge is a wonder to behold; fly over it on an included flightseeing* trip this morning. Antelope Canyon of the Navajo Nation was carved from rugged sandstone by rain and wind. Its Navajo name translates as “the place where water runs through rocks‚” protected from the elements and respected by the Navajos for its spiritual harmony with nature, this afternoon you’ll have a choice of how you explore it. You can go by open-air 4-wheel-drive vehicle* and take a walk through the canyon, or you can take a scenic cruise for spectacular views of Glen Canyon Dam. As an option (at an additional cost of $195 per person), you may wish to go on a 4-hour flightseeing excursion to Monument Valley in the morning. Meals BD

Day 5 – Rafting in Glen Canyon &amp; a cowboy town
The mighty Colorado River takes turns roaring or whispering as it churns through the canyons. Experience the gentler side of the river aboard a pontoon raft through Glen Canyon* – you may spot a variety of wildlife living amidst the colorful sandstone landscapes. Enjoy a change of scenery as you travel to a land of pines and pinnacles in Bryce Canyon National Park, stopping en route for a taste of real western entertainment during lunch in Kanab, Utah, another favorite location for some of the most famous cowboy movies ever made. Travel along the rim road through rock-candy cathedral spires tinted with shades of pink, red and orange. Stay in the heart of the park tonight at historic Bryce Canyon Lodge. Meals BLD

Day 6 – Trail ride in Bryce Canyon
Wake up to nature’s palette of brilliant colors in the canyon this morning; get a closer look at the whimsical hoodoos and intricately carved pillars of rock just a short walk from your lodge. Weather permitting, you can saddle up for an exciting trail ride* on a horse or a mule with a cowboy who points out hidden sights in this geologic fantasyland; Bryce Canyon is home to an ever-changing world of naturally carved amphitheaters, rocky spires, gravity-defying bridges, balanced rocks and sculpted limestone cliffs. Depart for Zion National Park this afternoon, the top of the Grand Staircase connecting to Grand Canyon and Bryce Canyon. Meals BLD

Day 7 – Hike in Zion National Park
Spend the morning as you wish, reading the rocks in Zion’s cliff-and-canyon landscape or taking a hike through narrow pink-colored gorges and dramatic canyons – eight different rock strata, deposited over 200 million years, can be found here. See creamy-pink Navajo Sandstone cliffs that reach up to 2,200 feet in height! Travel to Las Vegas for an overnight stay and a farewell dinner. Meals BD

Day 8 – Journey home from Las Vegas
Tour ends: Las Vegas. A transfer is included to Las Vegas Airport from New York – New York Hotel &amp; Casino. Fly home any time; checkout time is 12:00 noon. Allow a minimum of two hours for check-in. Meals B

]]>
  </itinerary>
  <itineraryDetails>
    <itineraryDay day="1">
  <title>Arrive Phoenix, Arizona</title>
  <description>Tour begins: JW Marriott Desert Ridge Resort &amp;amp; Spa at 5:30 PM. A transfer is included from Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport to the JW Marriott Desert Ridge Resort &amp;amp; Spa. This luxury resort offers many vacation amenities for the entire family, such as golf, swimming and tennis, as well as the Revive Spa, inspired by the reviving powers of water. Other features include a grand lobby, splashing fountains, sparkling waterways and palm-lined pathways! Join your fellow adventurers at our welcome reception and dinner tonight.</description>
  <overnight>JW Marriott Desert Ridge Resort &amp; Spa, Phoenix, AZ</overnight>
  <meals>Dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="2">
  <title>Red Rock Country &amp; the Grand Canyon</title>
  <description>Visit the beautiful town of Sedona, surrounded by towering red-rock formations that were often filmed for classic western movies. The scenery you’ll see on this journey is always awe-inspiring, but nothing can compare to the Grand Canyon, over one mile deep and 277 miles long. Geologists say that half of the earth’s history is represented in the canyon’s rocks, terraced buttes and mesas. Spend the night near the canyon’s rim in the heart of Grand Canyon National Park, giving you an opportunity to enjoy nature’s masterpiece after the day’s crowds depart – sure to be a highlight. Dine at your choice of restaurants this evening.</description>
  <overnight>Kachina or Thunderbird Lodge, Grand Canyon, AZ</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="3">
  <title>Explore the East RIm of the Grand Canyon</title>
  <description>Seeing the sun rise – and set – in the Grand Canyon is an eye-opening experience that will long be remembered and cherished by families of every age; join us for a sunrise hike along the rim of the canyon today, a great time to spot mule deer and squirrels in the cactus-studded landscape. Take a driving tour of the East Rim as you depart the Grand Canyon this afternoon en route to Page, Arizona. Vista stops along the way offer different perspectives of the canyon. Spend the next two nights at a resort nestled on the shores of Lake Powell in Glen Canyon National Recreation Area.</description>
  <overnight>Lake Powell Resorts &amp; Marinas, Page, AZ</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="4">
  <title>Flightsee over Rainbow Bridge &amp; Lake Powell</title>
  <description>As the world’s largest natural bridge, Rainbow Bridge is a wonder to behold; fly over it on an included flightseeing* trip this morning. Antelope Canyon of the Navajo Nation was carved from rugged sandstone by rain and wind. Its Navajo name translates as “the place where water runs through rocks‚” protected from the elements and respected by the Navajos for its spiritual harmony with nature, this afternoon you’ll have a choice of how you explore it. You can go by open-air 4-wheel-drive vehicle* and take a walk through the canyon, or you can take a scenic cruise for spectacular views of Glen Canyon Dam. As an option (at an additional cost of $195 per person), you may wish to go on a 4-hour flightseeing excursion to Monument Valley in the morning.</description>
  <overnight>Lake Powell Resorts &amp; Marinas, Page, AZ</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="5">
  <title>Rafting in Glen Canyon &amp; a cowboy town</title>
  <description>The mighty Colorado River takes turns roaring or whispering as it churns through the canyons. Experience the gentler side of the river aboard a pontoon raft through Glen Canyon* – you may spot a variety of wildlife living amidst the colorful sandstone landscapes. Enjoy a change of scenery as you travel to a land of pines and pinnacles in Bryce Canyon National Park, stopping en route for a taste of real western entertainment during lunch in Kanab, Utah, another favorite location for some of the most famous cowboy movies ever made. Travel along the rim road through rock-candy cathedral spires tinted with shades of pink, red and orange. Stay in the heart of the park tonight at historic Bryce Canyon Lodge. </description>
  <overnight>Bryce Canyon Lodge, Bryce Canyon National Park, UT</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="6">
  <title>Trail ride in Bryce Canyon</title>
  <description>Wake up to nature’s palette of brilliant colors in the canyon this morning; get a closer look at the whimsical hoodoos and intricately carved pillars of rock just a short walk from your lodge. Weather permitting, you can saddle up for an exciting trail ride* on a horse or a mule with a cowboy who points out hidden sights in this geologic fantasyland; Bryce Canyon is home to an ever-changing world of naturally carved amphitheaters, rocky spires, gravity-defying bridges, balanced rocks and sculpted limestone cliffs. Depart for Zion National Park this afternoon, the top of the Grand Staircase connecting to Grand Canyon and Bryce Canyon.</description>
  <overnight>Zion Lodge, Zion National Park, UT</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="7">
  <title>Hike in Zion National Park</title>
  <description>Spend the morning as you wish, reading the rocks in Zion’s cliff-and-canyon landscape or taking a hike through narrow pink-colored gorges and dramatic canyons – eight different rock strata, deposited over 200 million years, can be found here. See creamy-pink Navajo Sandstone cliffs that reach up to 2,200 feet in height! Travel to Las Vegas for an overnight stay and a farewell dinner.</description>
  <overnight>New York-New York Hotel &amp; Casino, Las Vegas, NV</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="8">
  <title>Journey Home from Las Vegas</title>
  <description>Tour ends: Las Vegas. A transfer is included to Las Vegas Airport from New York – New York Hotel &amp;amp; Casino. Fly home any time; checkout time is 12:00 noon. Allow a minimum of two hours for check-in.</description>
  <overnight></overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast</meals>
</itineraryDay>
  </itineraryDetails>
  <highlights>
		
				
						
								Montezuma Castle ~ Sedona ~ Grand Canyon ~ Lake Powell ~ Rainbow Bridge~ Glen Canyon ~ Kanab, Utah ~ Bryce Canyon ~ Zion ~ Las Vegas 
				
		
</highlights>
  <tauckValues>
    <value order="1">Family fun in Grand Canyon, Bryce Canyon and Zion national parks, for sightseeing sunup to sundown</value><value order="2">A flightseeing adventure over Rainbow Bridge &amp; Lake Powell</value><value order="3">Choice of 4-wheel-drive adventure to Antelope Canyon of the Navajo Nation or a boat ride on Lake Powell</value><value order="4">A trail ride with a cowboy in Bryce Canyon National Park</value><value order="5">Colorado River raft trip through Glen Canyon</value><value order="6">A visit to an old-fashioned Old West town where many western movies were made</value><value order="7">16 meals (7 breakfasts, 2 lunches, 7 dinners)</value><value order="8">All gratuities to Tauck Director, local guides &amp; drivers; service charges, taxes, porterage and airport transfers</value>
  </tauckValues>  
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    <date>
    <day>5</day>
    <month>6</month>
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    <singlesPrice>3234</singlesPrice>
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    <triplesPrice>2555</triplesPrice>
    <quadsPrice>2531</quadsPrice>
    
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</tour><tour>
  <sourceId>YG2010</sourceId>
  <title>Galápagos: Wildlife Wonderland</title>
  <summary>
    <![CDATA[		Family FYI: Did you know – the Galápagos Penguin can survive so close to the Equator because the Humboldt current brings in cold waters from the Antarctic. Discover wildlife found nowhere else in the world during this exceptional family Galápagos tour including a 4-night cruise aboard M/V Santa Cruz.
]]>
  </summary>
  <description>
    <![CDATA[Discover a truly magical place like nowhere else on earth during this fascinating Galápagos tour for the entire family. Experience a unique group of islands that are still much as they were when Charles Darwin first encountered them. Share the thrill of meeting bird and animal species that don’t exist anywhere else in the world as you explore this wonderful living laboratory with expert naturalists. You and your family will always remember the wonder of wandering freely among amazing creatures that have little to no fear of visitors!
]]>
  </description>
  <link>http://family-travel.tauck.com/tours/latin-america/galapagos-tour-yg-2010</link>
  <durationDays>8</durationDays>
  <durationDetails>8 days and 7 nights.</durationDetails>
  <tripType>ESCORTED_TOUR</tripType>
  <brand>Bridges</brand>
  <subbrand>Exotics</subbrand>
  <gradeRating>ALL_AGES</gradeRating>
  <comfortRating>COMFORTABLE_MIXED</comfortRating>
  <startingLocation>Quito, Ecuador</startingLocation>
  <prices>
    <price currency="USD">3350</price>
    <priceDetails><![CDATA[All prices are per person in U.S. dollars. ]]></priceDetails>
  </prices>
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  <itinerary>
    <![CDATA[Cruise aboard the expedition ship, M / V Santa Cruz, to islands time forgot and experience a wildlife wonderland beyond compare. Imagine coming nose-to-nose with a giant tortoise, sunbathing with iguanas and swimming with friendly sea lions. See birds wearing bright red and blue “shoes”; crabs dressed in red and yellow shells; and “prehistoric lizards” that dive in the sea for their supper. ECO Moments and daily shore excursions with on-board naturalists offer exciting opportunities to discover a living laboratory that takes you back more than a million years. 

• = Cruise day

Day 1. Arrive Quito, Ecuador
Tour begins: Swissôtel Quito. A transfer is included upon arrival in Quito from Mariscal Sucre International Airport to the Swissôtel Quito. Get set for adventure in and around Ecuador’s capital city early tomorrow morning! 

Day 2. All aboard for a look at la vida local in Quito
On a ride aboard the Chiva Express* you’ll visit a dairy farm to meet cows, horses and llamas, hike through the moorlands and have lunch at a local hacienda. Dine on farm-fresh cheese and just-picked vegetables and sample your choice of homemade desserts – sweet! Learn to play some traditional games or go exploring before returning to Quito. Join us for a welcome reception and dinner this evening. Meals BLD

• Day 3. Cruise to islands time forgot
Hop on a plane for a flight to Baltra Island, the starting point for your Galápagos Islands expedition* aboard M / V Santa Cruz. Your first stop is Santa Cruz Island, home to eight different species of Darwin’s Finches, symbol of evolution in the Galápagos. Put on your hiking shoes for a guided walk around a saltwater lagoon; look for pintail ducks, flamingos, stilts, and sandpipers. Back aboard the ship, gather round our naturalists for an informative briefing. Meals BLD

• Day 4. See marine animals &amp; walk on lava 
We’ll take you on a hike up to the summit of Bartolomé Island for great views of the neighboring islands and volcanic features like lava tubes and tuff cones. Then we’ll take a closer look at one of the island’s best places to see tropical Galápagos penguins, sea lions and sea turtles when we climb aboard a panga for a ride around Pinnacle Rock. You’ll have a chance to meet these animals face-to-face from a glass-bottom boat or on a snorkeling adventure. All of the islands were created from volcanoes – join our expert naturalists for a walk atop the black lava shores of San Salvador (Santiago or James) Island. Meals BLD

• Day 5. Finches, frigatebirds and blue-footed boobies
Prepare to get wet when we wade ashore on the red beach of Rabida (Jervis) Island, where you may be welcomed by a colony of noisy sea lions. This island is studded with volcanic craters that mockingbirds and Darwin’s Finches call home. Your cruise continues to North Seymour Island for a dry landing; the island is known for its colonies of blue-footed boobies and magnificent frigatebirds. Share an ECO (Explore, Conserve, Observe) Moment aboard ship tonight with our on-board naturalists, a fact-filled way to end the day. Meals BLD

• Day 6. Charles Darwin &amp; tortoises
Head to the highlands of Santa Cruz Island for a look at the giant tortoises that have captured the imaginations of travelers for centuries. Here’s your chance to see them in their natural environment, along with bright red Vermilion Flycatchers who are often just as curious about you as you are about them. Visit the Charles Darwin Research Station to hear about the ongoing conservation efforts to preserve the ecosystems and wildlife – and see more tortoises. Meals BLD

Day 7. Disembark ship and fly to Guayaquil
San Cristóbal Interpretation Center on San Cristóbal (Chatham) Island is a great place to learn even more about the natural history of the Galápagos and is the last stop on your cruise. Disembark ship for a flight back to the mainland and a farewell dinner, poolside! Meals BD

Day 8. Homeward bound
Tour ends: Guayaquil. Fly home anytime. A transfer is included from Hilton Colón Guayaquil to Guayaquil International Airport; allow a minimum of 2 1/2 hours for flight check-in. Meals B

]]>
  </itinerary>
  <itineraryDetails>
    <itineraryDay day="1">
  <title>Arrive Quito, Ecuador</title>
  <description>Tour begins: Swiss&amp;#244;tel Quito.  A transfer is included upon arrival in Quito from Mariscal Sucre International Airport to the Swiss&amp;#244;tel Quito.  Get set for adventure in and around Ecuador&apos;s capital city early tomorrow morning! </description>
  <overnight>Swissôtel Quito, Ecuador</overnight>
  <meals></meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="2">
  <title>All aboard for a look at la vida local in Quito</title>
  <description>On a ride aboard the Chiva Express* you&apos;ll visit a dairy farm to meet cows, horses and llamas, hike through the moorlands and have lunch at a local hacienda.  Dine on farm&amp;#45;fresh cheese and just&amp;#45;picked vegetables and sample your choice of homemade desserts &amp;#45; sweet! Learn to play some traditional games or go exploring before returning to Quito.  Join us for a welcome reception and dinner this evening.  Meals BLD</description>
  <overnight>Swissôtel Quito, Ecuador</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="3">
  <title>Cruise to islands time forgot</title>
  <description>Hop on a plane for a flight to Baltra Island, the starting point for your Gal&amp;#225;pagos Islands expedition* aboard M / V Santa Cruz.  Your first stop is Santa Cruz Island, home to eight different species of Darwin&apos;s Finches, symbol of evolution in the Gal&amp;#225;pagos.  Put on your hiking shoes for a guided walk around a saltwater lagoon; look for pintail ducks, flamingos, stilts, and sandpipers.  Back aboard the ship, gather round our naturalists for an informative briefing.  Meals BLD</description>
  <overnight>Cruising aboard M/V Santa Cruz, Galápagos Islands </overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="4">
  <title>See marine animals &amp; walk on lava </title>
  <description>We&apos;ll take you on a hike up to the summit of Bartolom&amp;#233; Island for great views of the neighboring islands and volcanic features like lava tubes and tuff cones.  Then we&apos;ll take a closer look at one of the island&apos;s best places to see tropical Gal&amp;#225;pagos penguins, sea lions and sea turtles when we climb aboard a panga for a ride around Pinnacle Rock.  You&apos;ll have a chance to meet these animals face&amp;#45;to&amp;#45;face from a glass&amp;#45;bottom boat or on a snorkeling adventure.  All of the islands were created from volcanoes &amp;#45; join our expert naturalists for a walk atop the black lava shores of San Salvador (Santiago or James) Island.  Meals BLD</description>
  <overnight>Cruising aboard M/V Santa Cruz, Galápagos Islands</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="5">
  <title>Finches, frigatebirds and blue&amp;#45;footed boobies</title>
  <description>Prepare to get wet when we wade ashore on the red beach of Rabida (Jervis) Island, where you may be welcomed by a colony of noisy sea lions.  This island is studded with volcanic craters that mockingbirds and Darwin&apos;s Finches call home.  Your cruise continues to North Seymour Island for a dry landing; the island is known for its colonies of blue&amp;#45;footed boobies and magnificent frigatebirds.  Share an ECO (Explore, Conserve, Observe) Moment aboard ship tonight with our on&amp;#45;board naturalists, a fact&amp;#45;filled way to end the day.  Meals BLD</description>
  <overnight>Cruising aboard M/V Santa Cruz, Galápagos Islands</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="6">
  <title>Charles Darwin &amp; tortoises</title>
  <description>Head to the highlands of Santa Cruz Island for a look at the giant tortoises that have captured the imaginations of travelers for centuries.  Here&apos;s your chance to see them in their natural environment, along with bright red Vermilion Flycatchers who are often just as curious about you as you are about them.  Visit the Charles Darwin Research Station to hear about the ongoing conservation efforts to preserve the ecosystems and wildlife &amp;#45; and see more tortoises.  Meals BLD</description>
  <overnight>Cruising aboard M/V Santa Cruz, Galápagos Islands</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="7">
  <title>Disembark ship and fly to Guayaquil</title>
  <description>San Crist&amp;#243;bal Interpretation Center on San Crist&amp;#243;bal (Chatham) Island is a great place to learn even more about the natural history of the Gal&amp;#225;pagos and is the last stop on your cruise.  Disembark ship for a flight back to the mainland and a farewell dinner, poolside! Meals BD</description>
  <overnight>Hilton Colón Guayaquil, Ecuador</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="8">
  <title>Homeward bound</title>
  <description>Tour ends: Guayaquil. Fly home anytime. A transfer is included from Hilton Colón Guayaquil to Guayaquil International Airport; allow a minimum of 2 1/2 hours for flight check-in.</description>
  <overnight></overnight>
  <meals> Breakfast </meals>
</itineraryDay>
  </itineraryDetails>
  <highlights>
		
				
						
								Guayaquil ~ Baltra Island ~ Santa Cruz Island ~ Bartolomé Island ~ Rabida Island ~ Charles Darwin Station ~ North Seymour Island  ~ San Cristóbal Island 
				
		
</highlights>
  <tauckValues>
    <value order="1">Four nights aboard M/V Santa Cruz, built exclusively for Galpagos Islands cruising</value><value order="2">Licensed Naturalist Guides of Galpagos National Park who accompany private Tauck Bridges shore excursions (average of two daily), offering hands-on natural history lessons; they also lead ECO Moments (Explore, Conserve, Observe); entrance fee to Galpagos National Park</value><value order="3">Visit to the Charles Darwin Research Station to learn about marine and terrestrial conservation in the islands and to meet giant tortoises</value><value order="4">Ride aboard Chiva Express in Quito for fun-filled visits to a dairy farm and a hacienda</value><value order="5">18 meals (7 breakfasts, 5 lunches, 6 dinners)</value><value order="6">All gratuities to Tauck Director, ship staff, drivers &amp; local guides; applicable fuel surcharges, porterage, taxes, service charges and airport transfers</value>
  </tauckValues>  
  <departureDates>
    <date>
    <day>17</day>
    <month>7</month>
    <year>2010</year>
    <singlesPrice>5997</singlesPrice>
    <doublesPrice>3990</doublesPrice>
    <triplesPrice>3795</triplesPrice>
    <quadsPrice>3745</quadsPrice>
    <cabins>
<cabin>
  <categoryCode>YG 20102</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>1</occupancy>
  <description>Main Deck - Standard         (quad)</description>
  <suppliment>0</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>5997</totalPrice>
</cabin>
<cabin>
  <categoryCode>YG 20102</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>2</occupancy>
  <description>Main Deck - Standard         (quad)</description>
  <suppliment>0</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>3990</totalPrice>
</cabin>
<cabin>
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</tour><tour>
  <sourceId>YI2010</sourceId>
  <title>Italia Bella: Rome to Venice</title>
  <summary>
    <![CDATA[		Family FYI: Did you know that there are nearly 40 separate ancient catacombs beneath the city of Rome? An after-hours guided visit to the Vatican Museums, a pizza-making lesson in Pisa, a tour of Roman catacombs and multiple-night stays in Florence, Venice and Rome highlight this most family-friendly of Italy tours.
]]>
  </summary>
  <description>
    <![CDATA[Of all of Tauck&apos;s popular Italy tours, this is the one designed with your family in mind – on which you&apos;ll share the splendors of Italy together! Explore the imperial city of Rome and the legacy of the powerful Roman Empire that ruled the world millennia ago. Look up at the celebrated ceiling of the Vatican&apos;s Sistine Chapel, as well as around at other Vatican treasures, on a special after-hours tour of the Vatican Museums, without the usual crowds! Discover the amazing art masterpieces of fabled Florence, birthplace of the Renaissance; explore Rome&apos;s fascinating Catacombs of St. Callistus, deep beneath the Eternal City; travel to the Tuscan city of Pisa and watch a pizza-making demonstration; and explore Orvieto&apos;s fascinating medieval tunnels. Take the high-speed Eurostar train to Venice and a remarkable world of Renaissance architecture surrounded by water. Tauck&apos;s most family-friendly of Italy tours includes a gondola ride and serenade along Venice&apos;s historic canals, a true delight!
]]>
  </description>
  <link>http://family-travel.tauck.com/tours/europe-tours/italy-tours/italy-tours-yi-2010</link>
  <durationDays>8</durationDays>
  <durationDetails>8 days and 7 nights.</durationDetails>
  <tripType>ESCORTED_TOUR</tripType>
  <brand>Bridges</brand>
  <subbrand>Bridges</subbrand>
  <gradeRating>ALL_AGES</gradeRating>
  <comfortRating>COMFORTABLE_MIXED</comfortRating>
  <startingLocation>Rome, Italy</startingLocation>
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    <price currency="USD">3667</price>
    <priceDetails><![CDATA[All prices are per person in U.S. dollars. ]]></priceDetails>
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  <itinerary>
    <![CDATA[		Travel back in time on this fun-filled Roman holiday as you explore treasured sites in ancient Rome, go underground in medieval Orvieto, view world-famous art from 15th-century Florence and explore the city where Venetian rulers lived for 800 years.

Say ciao to a Roman Centurion at the Colosseum during a guided tour of ancient Rome. On a private after-hours visit to the Vatican and look up – and down – in the Sistine Chapel; there are no crowds. Learn about the Renaissance from an art historian in Florence and see Michelangelo’s David at the Galleria dell’Accademia. Experience pizza in Pisa as you explore the “field of miracles.” Ride the high-speed Eurostar to Venice.

Day 1 – Arrive Rome, capital of the Ancient World 
Tour begins: 3:00 PM, The Westin Excelsior, Rome. A transfer is included from Leonardo da Vinci Airport in Fiumicino to The Westin Excelsior, Rome, ideally located in the heart of the city within walking distance to many historic sights. Your adventures in Italia Bella begin with a guided visit to the fascinating Catacombs of St. Callistus, underground burial tunnels for almost half a million early Christians and 16 third-century popes. Cryptic symbols and painted frescoes provide pictorial clues to the life and customs of its ancient Christian community! End your first day in Rome at our welcome reception and dinner at a local restaurant where the fun really heats up. Meals D

Day 2 – Go inside Rome &amp; tour the Vatican after hours
Drive back through the history of Imperial Rome today, relics of which are visible virtually everywhere you look. While many of the ruins you’ll see just hint at their former grandeur, the Colosseum roars with memories of gladiators, lions and the deafening cheers – or jeers – of the some 55,000 spectators who watched the emperor’s games here. Walk through one of its 80 entrances on a guided tour, learning more about this huge amphitheater from your knowledgeable guide. See the temples, arches and basilicas of the Roman Forum and visit St. Peter’s Basilica. Get set for a special treat this evening when our local expert takes you on a guided after-hours tour of the Vatican Museums, without crowds. It is an extraordinary experience, a memory that creates a lasting lifetime bond for families. Look around – and up – at the palace walls and ceilings to view its colorful frescoes, then look down at the amazing floors. The Sistine Chapel is adorned with a dozen of these detailed murals, with the most famous of all painted on the ceiling by one of the most famous artists of all time, Michelangelo. Meals BD

Day 3 – Explore Orvieto’s medieval tunnels
Italy astounds with wonders of another time and place, as you will discover as we drive through the Umbrian and Tuscan countryside to Florence. First stop is Orvieto, looming over vine-covered hills from its walled perch atop a volcanic plateau. This medieval gem is filled with Gothic discoveries, even below ground! Explore its honeycombed tunnels and Etruscan caves on a guided tour that takes you under the town’s cobblestone streets, then continue on your way to Florence. See Michelangelo’s statue of David on a guided visit to the Galleria dell’Accademia before settling into your palace hotel. Meals BD

Day 4 – See how pizza is made in Pisa 
Explore nearby Pisa today, home to the famous Leaning Tower as well as the Duomo and graceful Baptistry. Learn about the history of the “field of miracles‚” and see how pizza is made during a lunchtime demonstration. Dinner is on your own tonight in Florence. Meals BL

Day 5 – Visit the Uffizi 
Meet a local art historian who shares insights about the masterpieces of the Renaissance, many of which you will see today. Join a local guide for a visit inside the Uffizi to see Botticelli’s The Birth of Venus and Michelangelo’s painting of The Holy Family. The remainder of the day is for you to explore Florence with your family. Meals B

Day 6 – Take the Eurostar train to Venice, city of canals
Board the sleek Eurostar train for a first-class, high-speed rail trip to Venice where a private boat will be waiting to take you to your hotel for lunch along the Grand Canal. Join us this afternoon on a guided walking tour of St. Mark’s Square and a visit the Doges’ Palace, perhaps the most beautiful Renaissance palace in Italy. Enjoy a serenade aboard a gondola as you glide along the canals of the city. Meals BL

Day 7 – Get a glimpse of daily life in Venice
Mask-making is a centuries-old tradition here in Venice and to see them being made is a memorable experience. Meet skilled local artists who turn papier-mâché into colorful characters, human and animal, right before your eyes, creating new facial identities for the wearer! Sample daily life – and gelato – on your own before joining us for a farewell party tonight as we say arrivederci to Italia Bella. Meals BD

Day 8 – Journey home
Tour ends: Venice, Italy. Fly home anytime. A transfer is included from The Westin Europa &amp; Regina to Venice’s Marco Polo Airport. Allow a minimum of 2 1/2 hours for flight check-in. Meals B

]]>
  </itinerary>
  <itineraryDetails>
    <itineraryDay day="1">
  <title>Arrive Rome, capital of the Ancient World </title>
  <description>Tour begins: 3:00 PM, The Westin Excelsior, Rome. A transfer is included from Leonardo da Vinci Airport in Fiumicino to The Westin Excelsior, Rome, ideally located in the heart of the city within walking distance to many historic sights. Your adventures in Italia Bella begin with a guided visit to the fascinating Catacombs of St. Callistus, underground burial tunnels for almost half a million early Christians and 16 third-century popes. Cryptic symbols and painted frescoes provide pictorial clues to the life and customs of its ancient Christian community! End your first day in Rome at our welcome reception and dinner at a local restaurant where the fun really heats up.</description>
  <overnight>The Westin Excelsior, Rome, Italy</overnight>
  <meals>Dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="2">
  <title>Go inside Rome &amp; tour the Vatican after hours</title>
  <description>Drive back through the history of Imperial Rome today, relics of which are visible virtually everywhere you look. While many of the ruins you’ll see just hint at their former grandeur, the Colosseum roars with memories of gladiators, lions and the deafening cheers – or jeers – of the some 55,000 spectators who watched the emperor’s games here. Walk through one of its 80 entrances on a guided tour, learning more about this huge amphitheater from your knowledgeable guide. See the temples, arches and basilicas of the Roman Forum and visit St. Peter’s Basilica. Get set for a special treat this evening when our local expert takes you on a guided after-hours tour of the Vatican Museums, without crowds. It is an extraordinary experience, a memory that creates a lasting lifetime bond for families. Look around – and up – at the palace walls and ceilings to view its colorful frescoes, then look down at the amazing floors. The Sistine Chapel is adorned with a dozen of these detailed murals, with the most famous of all painted on the ceiling by one of the most famous artists of all time, Michelangelo.</description>
  <overnight>The Westin Excelsior, Rome, Italy</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, dinner </meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="3">
  <title>Explore Orvieto’s medieval tunnels</title>
  <description>Italy astounds with wonders of another time and place, as you will discover as we drive through the Umbrian and Tuscan countryside to Florence. First stop is Orvieto, looming over vine-covered hills from its walled perch atop a volcanic plateau. This medieval gem is filled with Gothic discoveries, even below ground! Explore its honeycombed tunnels and Etruscan caves on a guided tour that takes you under the town’s cobblestone streets, then continue on your way to Florence. See Michelangelo’s statue of David on a guided visit to the Galleria dell’Accademia before settling into your palace hotel.</description>
  <overnight>Grand Hotel Florence, A Luxury Collection Hotel, Florence, Italy</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="4">
  <title>See how pizza is made in Pisa </title>
  <description>Explore nearby Pisa today, home to the famous Leaning Tower as well as the Duomo and graceful Baptistry. Learn about the history of the “field of miracles‚” and see how pizza is made during a lunchtime demonstration. Dinner is on your own tonight in Florence.</description>
  <overnight>Grand Hotel Florence, A Luxury Collection Hotel, Florence, Italy</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="5">
  <title>Visit the Uffizi </title>
  <description>Meet a local art historian who shares insights about the masterpieces of the Renaissance, many of which you will see today. Join a local guide for a visit inside the Uffizi to see Botticelli’s The Birth of Venus and Michelangelo’s painting of The Holy Family. The remainder of the day is for you to explore Florence with your family.</description>
  <overnight>Grand Hotel Florence, A Luxury Collection Hotel, Florence, Italy</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="6">
  <title>Take the Eurostar train to Venice, city of canals</title>
  <description>Board the sleek Eurostar train for a first-class, high-speed rail trip to Venice where a private boat will be waiting to take you to your hotel for lunch along the Grand Canal. Join us this afternoon on a guided walking tour of St. Mark’s Square and a visit the Doges’ Palace, perhaps the most beautiful Renaissance palace in Italy. Enjoy a serenade aboard a gondola as you glide along the canals of the city.</description>
  <overnight>The Westin Europa &amp; Regina, Venice, Italy</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="7">
  <title>Get a glimpse of daily life in Venice</title>
  <description>Mask-making is a centuries-old tradition here in Venice and to see them being made is a memorable experience. Meet skilled local artists who turn papier-mâché into colorful characters, human and animal, right before your eyes, creating new facial identities for the wearer! Sample daily life – and gelato – on your own before joining us for a farewell party tonight as we say arrivederci to Italia Bella.</description>
  <overnight>The Westin Europa &amp; Regina, Venice, Italy</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="8">
  <title>Journey Home</title>
  <description>Tour ends: Venice, Italy. Fly home anytime. A transfer is included from The Westin Europa &amp;amp; Regina to Venice’s Marco Polo Airport. Allow a minimum of 2 1/2 hours for flight check-in.</description>
  <overnight></overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast</meals>
</itineraryDay>
  </itineraryDetails>
  <highlights>
		
				
Rome &amp; the Colosseum ~ Private Vatican Visit  ~ Underground Orvieto ~ Florence &amp; the Uffizi ~ High-Speed Eurostar ~ Pisa &amp; Leaning Tower ~ Gondolas in Venice ~ Doges’ Palace ~ St. Mark’s Square

		
</highlights>
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    <value order="1">Special after-hours guided visit to the Vatican Museums &amp; the Sistine Chapel – fewer crowds &amp; unhurried viewing</value><value order="2">Tour of ancient underground burial chambers in the Roman Catacombs of St. Callistus</value><value order="3">Exploration of medieval Orvieto including its Etruscan caves and tunnels</value><value order="4">Guided tours of the Uffizi and Galleria dell’Accademia in Florence</value><value order="5">First class aboard the Eurostar train from Florence to Venice</value><value order="6">Sightseeing &amp; a pizza-making demonstration in Pisa</value><value order="7">Serenaded gondola ride in Venice, the city of canals</value><value order="8">13 meals (7 breakfasts, 2 lunches, 4 dinners)</value><value order="9">All gratuities to Tauck Director, local guides &amp; drivers; service charges, taxes, porterage and airport transfers</value>
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  <sourceId>YL2010</sourceId>
  <title>Castles &amp; Kings: London to Paris</title>
  <summary>
    <![CDATA[		Family FYI: Did you know that on a clear day you can see up to 25 miles in every direction from the top of the London Eye? History books come alive on our family London and Paris tour – visit the Eiffel Tower, Tower of London, Windsor Castle, Versailles and Cabinet War Rooms; ride the London Eye and a speedboat on the Thames; and see the hit revival of Oliver! in London&apos;s West End.
]]>
  </summary>
  <description>
    <![CDATA[Walk in the footsteps of kings and queens as you explore London, followed by a Paris tour. See Britain&apos;s Crown Jewels, meet the Beefeaters at the Tower of London, and check out Churchill&apos;s Cabinet War Rooms. Imagine living like a member of the Royal Family at Windsor Castle. See it all from the top of the London Eye, and go back to Dickens&apos; London with a performance of Oliver! Ride a speedboat on the Thames and travel under the Channel on the Eurostar to Paris. Tour the Palace of Versailles, see the gargoyles at Notre Dame Cathedral, and have dinner on a cruise along the River Seine. Tauck&apos;s family London and Paris tour rocks!
]]>
  </description>
  <link>http://family-travel.tauck.com/tours/europe-tours/great-britain-and-ireland-tours/paris-tour-yl-2010</link>
  <durationDays>8</durationDays>
  <durationDetails>8 days and 7 nights.</durationDetails>
  <tripType>ESCORTED_TOUR</tripType>
  <brand>Bridges</brand>
  <subbrand>Bridges</subbrand>
  <gradeRating>ALL_AGES</gradeRating>
  <comfortRating>COMFORTABLE_MIXED</comfortRating>
  <startingLocation>London, England</startingLocation>
  <prices>
    <price currency="USD">3890</price>
    <priceDetails><![CDATA[All prices are per person in U.S. dollars. ]]></priceDetails>
  </prices>
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  <itinerary>
    <![CDATA[Embark on a royal journey through time in two of Europe’s most exciting capital cities. Visit London’s majestic castles, steeped in the history and pageantry of centuries-old traditions; and soar high above the River Thames on the world’s highest observation wheel. A rail journey under the English Channel speeds you to Paris, where the Eiffel Tower, Versailles Palace, Notre Dame Cathedral and the artists of Montmartre welcome you with a daily dose of joie de vivre. 

Day 1 – Arrive London / A private double-decker bus ride
Tour begins: 3:00 PM, Langham Hotel, London. Welcome to London, one of Europe’s most delightful capital cities. A transfer is included from London’s Heathrow Airport to the Langham Hotel, London. You will be spending the next four nights in the heart of the city, minutes from landmark sights. Board a private double-decker bus for a fun-filled sightseeing excursion this afternoon – it’s a perfect introduction to some of the most famous sights in London. Join us for a welcome reception and dinner tonight as you get to know your fellow travelers. Meals D

Day 2 – Tower of London and a ride on the London Eye  
Meet an English “Beefeater” today before exploring the infamous Tower of London – it has served as both a castle and prison through the centuries! See the Bloody Tower and the priceless Crown Jewels, then get set for an exciting speedboat adventure on the Thames River. You will experience a different view of the city from your glass pod on the celebrated London Eye; the world’s highest observation wheel takes you 450 feet above the Thames River. Meals BL

Day 3 – Windsor Castle and a night at the theatre
See how English royalty live on a visit to Windsor Castle; built by William the Conqueror in 1070, it has been home to the kings and queens of England for over 900 years! When Queen Elizabeth is in residence, a flag called the Royal Standard flies from the Round Tower; at other times, you’ll see the Union Flag. View Queen Mary’s Dolls’ House, built in the early 1920s; this exquisitely detailed miniature palace even has a tiny wine cellar that contains real wine. London’s West End is the largest theatre district in the world, dating back to 1663. There is nothing more traditionally English than a night at the theatre, and there is no more traditional English musical than Oliver; your family will make a trip to Drury Lane this evening for a performance. Meals B

Day 4 – Explore a famous London museum
Take a guided tour of the British Museum, chronicling two million years of history and culture. The museum has grown from a collection of private manuscripts in 1753 to the most comprehensive treasury of art and artifacts in the world and is housed in 2 1/2 miles of galleries! Explore Winston Churchill’s historic Cabinet War Rooms on an optional visit to the Churchill Museum after lunch or experience the city as you please for the remainder of the day. Meals BL

Day 5 – Travel First Class aboard Eurostar to Paris
Travel First Class aboard the high-speed Eurostar train today for a journey that takes you from London to Paris in just two hours and fifteen minutes, the fastest time ever, with an amazing ride under the English Channel. We’ll introduce you to the city on a sightseeing tour, including the Eiffel Tower, before checking you into your Parisian hotel, located on the edge of the Tuileries Garden. Dinner tonight is at Montparnasse Tower, boasting phenomenal city views. Meals BLD

Day 6 – Tour the palace at Château de Versailles  
Standing about an hour outside of Paris, Château de Versailles, one of the most extravagant palaces in Europe, virtually glitters with gold! During a guided tour this morning, you won’t be surprised to learn that Louis XIV spent a lot of money building this royal residence – it would cost more than $2 billion to build today. Hear stories about life in the palace, and stroll through its beautiful formal gardens. You’ll be back in Paris before lunch, where you can explore the city sights as you wish – you may want to check out Mona Lisa’s enigmatic smile at the Musée du Louvre, walk down the Champs-Elysées to the Arc de Triomphe, or stop in a traditional café for a sweet confection. Meals B

Day 7 – Visit Notre Dame and explore Montmartre  
Built on the site of a Roman temple, Notre Dame has been witness to the greatest events in Parisian history from its perch in the heart of the Ile de la Cité and the River Seine since the 12th century. You’ll have a chance to tour this majestic Gothic cathedral with a local expert today, seeing the grotesque gargoyles that peer down from ledges on the façade of the building, as well as the bell tower made famous by Quasimodo in The Hunchback of Notre Dame. Then it’s off for a visit to hilltop Montmartre, where for centuries Parisian street artists have flocked to draw, paint and sketch under the shadow of the grandiose Sacre-Coeur. A guided walking tour offers an opportunity to see them at work. Enjoy free time to explore this afternoon before we treat you to a private farewell dinner cruise on the River Seine. Bid au revoir to Paris under the glow of the city lights tonight. Meals BD

Day 8 – Journey home
Tour Ends: Paris. Fly home anytime. A transfer is included to Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport from The Westin Paris. You should allow a minimum of 2 1/2 hours for flight check-in. Meals B
]]>
  </itinerary>
  <itineraryDetails>
    <itineraryDay day="1">
  <title>Arrive London / A private double-decker bus ride</title>
  <description>Tour begins: 3:00 PM, Langham Hotel, London. Welcome to London, one of Europe’s most delightful capital cities. A transfer is included from London’s Heathrow Airport to the Langham Hotel, London. You will be spending the next four nights in the heart of the city, minutes from landmark sights. Board a private double-decker bus for a fun-filled sightseeing excursion this afternoon – it’s a perfect introduction to some of the most famous sights in London. Join us for a welcome reception and dinner tonight as you get to know your fellow travelers.</description>
  <overnight>The Langham, London, England</overnight>
  <meals>Dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="2">
  <title>Tower of London and a ride on the London Eye </title>
  <description>Meet an English “Beefeater” today before exploring the infamous Tower of London – it has served as both a castle and prison through the centuries! See the Bloody Tower and the priceless Crown Jewels, then get set for an exciting speedboat adventure on the Thames River. You will experience a different view of the city from your glass pod on the celebrated London Eye; the world’s highest observation wheel takes you 450 feet above the Thames River.</description>
  <overnight>The Langham, London, England</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="3">
  <title>Windsor Castle and a night at the theatre</title>
  <description>See how English royalty live on a visit to Windsor Castle; built by William the Conqueror in 1070, it has been home to the kings and queens of England for over 900 years! When Queen Elizabeth is in residence, a flag called the Royal Standard flies from the Round Tower; at other times, you’ll see the Union Flag. View Queen Mary’s Dolls’ House, built in the early 1920s; this exquisitely detailed miniature palace even has a tiny wine cellar that contains real wine. London’s West End is the largest theatre district in the world, dating back to 1663. There is nothing more traditionally English than a night at the theatre, and there is no more traditional English musical than Oliver; your family will make a trip to Drury Lane this evening for a performance.</description>
  <overnight>The Langham, London, England</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="4">
  <title>Explore a famous London museum</title>
  <description>Take a guided tour of the British Museum, chronicling two million years of history and culture. The museum has grown from a collection of private manuscripts in 1753 to the most comprehensive treasury of art and artifacts in the world and is housed in 2 1/2 miles of galleries! Explore Winston Churchill’s historic Cabinet War Rooms on an optional visit to the Churchill Museum after lunch or experience the city as you please for the remainder of the day.</description>
  <overnight>The Langham, London, England</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="5">
  <title>Travel First Class aboard Eurostar to Paris</title>
  <description>Travel First Class aboard the high-speed Eurostar train today for a journey that takes you from London to Paris in just two hours and fifteen minutes, the fastest time ever, with an amazing ride under the English Channel. We’ll introduce you to the city on a sightseeing tour, including the Eiffel Tower, before checking you into your Parisian hotel, located on the edge of the Tuileries Garden. Dinner tonight is at Montparnasse Tower, boasting phenomenal city views.</description>
  <overnight>The Westin Paris, France</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="6">
  <title>Tour the palace at Château de Versailles  </title>
  <description>Standing about an hour outside of Paris, Château de Versailles, one of the most extravagant palaces in Europe, virtually glitters with gold! During a guided tour this morning, you won’t be surprised to learn that Louis XIV spent a lot of money building this royal residence – it would cost more than $2 billion to build today. Hear stories about life in the palace, and stroll through its beautiful formal gardens. You’ll be back in Paris before lunch, where you can explore the city sights as you wish – you may want to check out Mona Lisa’s enigmatic smile at the Musée du Louvre, walk down the Champs-Elysées to the Arc de Triomphe, or stop in a traditional café for a sweet confection.</description>
  <overnight>The Westin Paris, France</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="7">
  <title>Visit Notre Dame and explore Montmartre  </title>
  <description>Built on the site of a Roman temple, Notre Dame has been witness to the greatest events in Parisian history from its perch in the heart of the Ile de la Cité and the River Seine since the 12th century. You’ll have a chance to tour this majestic Gothic cathedral with a local expert today, seeing the grotesque gargoyles that peer down from ledges on the façade of the building, as well as the bell tower made famous by Quasimodo in The Hunchback of Notre Dame. Then it’s off for a visit to hilltop Montmartre, where for centuries Parisian street artists have flocked to draw, paint and sketch under the shadow of the grandiose Sacre-Coeur. A guided walking tour offers an opportunity to see them at work. Enjoy free time to explore this afternoon before we treat you to a private farewell dinner cruise on the River Seine. Bid au revoir to Paris under the glow of the city lights tonight.</description>
  <overnight>The Westin Paris, France</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="8">
  <title>Journey Home</title>
  <description>Tour Ends: Paris. Fly home anytime. A transfer is included to Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport from The Westin Paris. You should allow a minimum of 2 1/2 hours for flight check-in.</description>
  <overnight></overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast</meals>
</itineraryDay>
  </itineraryDetails>
  <highlights>
		
				
						
								Tower of London ~ The London Eye ~ Speedboat Adventure ~ Windsor Castle ~ West End Theatre ~ High-Speed Eurostar  ~ River Seine Cruise ~ Palace of Versailles ~ Notre Dame 
				
		
</highlights>
  <tauckValues>
    <value order="1">A guided tour with a local expert through the British Museum and the underground Cabinet War Rooms</value><value order="2">A ride on the London Eye; a thrilling speedboat ride on the historic River Thames; and a night at the theatre at the hit revival of Oliver</value><value order="3">First-Class travel aboard the high-speed Eurostar train from London to Paris</value><value order="4">Guided visits to Notre Dame, the Eiffel Tower &amp; Montmartre</value><value order="5">A dinner overlooking Paris at Montparnasse Tower and a private farewell dinner cruise along the River Seine</value><value order="6">13 meals (7 breakfasts, 3 lunches, 3 dinners)</value><value order="7">All gratuities to Tauck Director, local guides &amp; drivers; service charges, taxes, porterage and airport transfers</value>
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</tour><tour>
  <sourceId>YO2010</sourceId>
  <title>Costa Rica: Jungles &amp; Rainforests</title>
  <summary>
    <![CDATA[		Family FYI: Did you know that Costa Rica boasts 1,000 butterfly varieties, 9,000 kinds of plants, and 34,000 species of insects? This unforgettable Costa Rica vacation takes your family to an ecological wonderland complete with rainforests, volcanoes, jungle rivers, and tropical beaches.
]]>
  </summary>
  <description>
    <![CDATA[Discover a natural wonderland on this family Costa Rica vacation. Ride a raft along a jungle river, get a bird’s-eye view of one of the world’s most active volcanoes from a sky tram, or fly high on a zip-line adventure. Hop into a volcanic mud pool or go river tubing or horseback riding at a working hacienda. Meet howler monkeys and amazing amphibians at Tortuguero National Park, learn a bit of Spanish, tour a pineapple plantation and a coffee farm, and look for brilliant butterflies! A world of fun awaits on your family&apos;s Costa Rica vacation.
]]>
  </description>
  <link>http://family-travel.tauck.com/tours/latin-america/costa-rica-vacation-yo-2010</link>
  <durationDays>8</durationDays>
  <durationDetails>8 days and 7 nights.</durationDetails>
  <tripType>ESCORTED_TOUR</tripType>
  <brand>Bridges</brand>
  <subbrand>Exotics</subbrand>
  <gradeRating>ALL_AGES</gradeRating>
  <comfortRating>COMFORTABLE_MIXED</comfortRating>
  <startingLocation>Liberia, Costa Rica</startingLocation>
  <prices>
    <price currency="USD">1994</price>
    <priceDetails><![CDATA[All prices are per person in U.S. dollars. ]]></priceDetails>
  </prices>
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  <itinerary>
    <![CDATA[From brilliant blue butterflies to brightly colored birds, howling monkeys, quiet caimans, and three-toed sloths, Costa Rica puts a tropical playground right at your doorstep. Experience an unforgettable family eco-adventure that takes you to the tropical rainforests, active volcanoes, lush jungle rivers, beautiful beaches, and scenic canals of Costa Rica with expert naturalist guides who show you an amazing world of natural wonders. Stay in awesome lodges in the heart of the jungle, with an opportunity to view exotic wildlife right outside your door from dawn to dusk!

Have fun on a hacienda adventure where you spend the day with cowboys and ranch hands; you can take a dip in thermal mud pools, go river tubing or horseback riding. Spot diverse wildlife as you cruise jungle rivers and canals with naturalist guides. View one of the world’s most active volcanoes by lake boat and sky tram or have an amazing adventure by zip-line. Visit the home of a local farmer and his family who have lived along the river for generations. Learn some Spanish from a local. Get an insider’s view of organic farming on tours of working organic pineapple and coffee plantations. See nesting green sea turtles at Tortuguero National Park (in season), or learn all about them at a conservation center. 

Day 1. Arrive Liberia, Costa Rica
Tour begins: 6:00 PM, Hotel Playa Hermosa. A transfer is included from Liberia International Airport to Hotel Playa Hermosa, which, as you are about to learn, is Spanish for “beautiful beach.” But that’s just the beginning of the natural delights your family will discover at this secluded oceanfront resort, for there are monkeys in the trees overhead, iguanas on the sands below and tropical gardens all around you. Settle in for a two-night stay and meet your fellow eco-adventurers at a welcome dinner tonight. Meals D

Day 2. Fun at Hacienda Guachipelin  
Wonder what local families do for fun in Costa Rica? You’ll find out firsthand when you spend the day with cowboys and ranch hands at a working hacienda set at the foot of a towering volcano. They’ve been raising cattle and horses here at Hacienda Guachipelin for more than a hundred years. See them in the corrals of the hacienda before embarking on your choice of included activities. Want to explore the scenic grounds on horseback? Saddle up for a trail ride* with your cowboy guide. Feel like a refreshing swim? Hike* to a nearby waterfall and cool off in a natural pool or don your life jacket and spirit of adventure for an exciting river-tube ride* down Rio Negro. Outdoor fun continues back at your beachfront resort. Meals BD

Day 3. Soar over Arenal Volcano
Drive to Lake Arenal today, nestled under the shadow of cone-shaped, hot-headed Arenal Volcano. Weather permitting, get a closer look at this active volcano on a lake cruise, before taking off on a sky tram or on a thrilling zip-line adventure* over lush Costa Rican landscapes. This afternoon, we’re headed to a private riverfront reserve for a two-night stay, where you can enjoy an authentic glimpse of jungle life, starting with an introductory Spanish lesson by a local teacher who teaches you to habla Español. Meals BLD

Day 4. Go river rafting in a jungle
Another exciting day in Costa Rica’s tropical playground begins with a jungle river-rafting trip* on the Peñas Blancas River. Your expert guide will help you spot amazing wildlife from giant iguanas – they can grow up to 3 feet in this tropical climate – to chattering parrots and slow-moving sloths. Stop along the way to visit the home of a local farmer and his extended family; they have lived on the river all their lives, much as their ancestors did. The rest of the day is free for you to explore on your own. How about orchid spotting, bird watching, butterfly hunting or fruit picking? Meals BLD

Day 5. Pineapples, boats &amp; a turtle trip 
In Spanish, Costa Rica means “rich coast,” – you’ll find riches galore everywhere you go. Visit an organic pineapple plantation in central Costa Rica for a farm-fresh treat that is as sweet as it gets. Hop aboard a special touring tramcar for an insider’s look at the history of pineapple production on this 3,000 acre farm – over 38 million pineapples are harvested here every year. Back on the road again, we’ll drive atop some typically rugged, often unpaved roads to the northeastern coast. Then it’s all aboard a jungle launch for a boat ride to your riverfront lodge, set on a network of scenic canals next to Tortuguero National Park. Keep an eye out for turtles, caimans, monkeys and toucans as you cruise. Depending on when you travel with us, we’ll head out on a nighttime trip to the beach to observe nesting endangered green sea turtles – this unforgettable experience only occurs in July and August. Meals BLD

Day 6. Tortuguero treasures
Wake up to the sounds of the rainforest. Eleven different habitats have been identified in the surrounding wilderness, including 60 kinds of mammals, 57 species of amphibians, 111 varieties of reptiles and more than 309 recorded species of birds! Cruise the park’s rivers and canals with an expert naturalist guide, then visit a local village and the Caribbean Conservation Center to see how these ecosystems are being protected for the future. Meals BLD

Day 7. A cup of joe in San José
Fly back to San José. We’ll take you behind the scenes to see how coffee is made from seed to the cup on a guided tour of a coffee farm flavored with history and tradition. Spend the afternoon at your resort and join us tonight for a farewell dinner. Meals BLD

Day 8. Adios Amigos – journey home
Tour ends: San José. Fly home anytime. Airport transfers are included from the hotel; allow 2 1/2 hours for check-in. Meals B
]]>
  </itinerary>
  <itineraryDetails>
    <itineraryDay day="1">
  <title>Arrive Liberia, Costa Rica</title>
  <description>Tour begins: 6:00 PM, Hotel Playa Hermosa.  A transfer is included from Liberia International Airport to Hotel Playa Hermosa, which, as you are about to learn, is Spanish for “beautiful beach.” But that&apos;s just the beginning of the natural delights your family will discover at this secluded oceanfront resort, for there are monkeys in the trees overhead, iguanas on the sands below and tropical gardens all around you.  Settle in for a two&amp;#45;night stay and meet your fellow eco&amp;#45;adventurers at a welcome dinner tonight.  Meals D</description>
  <overnight>Hotel Playa Hermosa, Guanacaste, Costa Rica</overnight>
  <meals>Dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="2">
  <title>Fun at Hacienda Guachipelin </title>
  <description>Wonder what local families do for fun in Costa Rica? You&apos;ll find out firsthand when you spend the day with cowboys and ranch hands at a working hacienda set at the foot of a towering volcano.  They&apos;ve been raising cattle and horses here at Hacienda Guachipelin for more than a hundred years.  See them in the corrals of the hacienda before embarking on your choice of included activities.  Want to explore the scenic grounds on horseback? Saddle up for a trail ride* with your cowboy guide.  Feel like a refreshing swim? Hike* to a nearby waterfall and cool off in a natural pool or don your life jacket and spirit of adventure for an exciting river&amp;#45;tube ride* down Rio Negro.  Outdoor fun continues back at your beachfront resort.  Meals BD</description>
  <overnight>Hotel Playa Hermosa, Guanacaste, Costa Rica</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="3">
  <title>Soar over Arenal Volcano</title>
  <description>Drive to Lake Arenal today, nestled under the shadow of cone&amp;#45;shaped, hot&amp;#45;headed Arenal Volcano.  Weather permitting, get a closer look at this active volcano on a lake cruise, before taking off on a sky tram or on a thrilling zip&amp;#45;line adventure* over lush Costa Rican landscapes.  This afternoon, we&apos;re headed to a private riverfront reserve for a two&amp;#45;night stay, where you can enjoy an authentic glimpse of jungle life, starting with an introductory Spanish lesson by a local teacher who teaches you to habla Espa&amp;#241;ol.  Meals BLD</description>
  <overnight>Tilajari Resort Hotel, Muelle, Costa Rica</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="4">
  <title>Go river rafting in a jungle</title>
  <description>Another exciting day in Costa Rica&apos;s tropical playground begins with a jungle river&amp;#45;rafting trip* on the Pe&amp;#241;as Blancas River.  Your expert guide will help you spot amazing wildlife from giant iguanas &amp;#45; they can grow up to 3 feet in this tropical climate &amp;#45; to chattering parrots and slow&amp;#45;moving sloths.  Stop along the way to visit the home of a local farmer and his extended family; they have lived on the river all their lives, much as their ancestors did.  The rest of the day is free for you to explore on your own.  How about orchid spotting, bird watching, butterfly hunting or fruit picking? Meals BLD</description>
  <overnight>Tilajari Resort Hotel, Muelle, Costa Rica</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="5">
  <title>Pineapples, boats &amp; a turtle trip </title>
  <description>In Spanish, Costa Rica means “rich coast,” &amp;#45; you&apos;ll find riches galore everywhere you go.  Visit an organic pineapple plantation in central Costa Rica for a farm&amp;#45;fresh treat that is as sweet as it gets.  Hop aboard a special touring tramcar for an insider&apos;s look at the history of pineapple production on this 3,000 acre farm &amp;#45; over 38 million pineapples are harvested here every year.  Back on the road again, we&apos;ll drive atop some typically rugged, often unpaved roads to the northeastern coast.  Then it&apos;s all aboard a jungle launch for a boat ride to your riverfront lodge, set on a network of scenic canals next to Tortuguero National Park.  Keep an eye out for turtles, caimans, monkeys and toucans as you cruise.  Depending on when you travel with us, we&apos;ll head out on a nighttime trip to the beach to observe nesting endangered green sea turtles &amp;#45; this unforgettable experience only occurs in July and August.  Meals BLD</description>
  <overnight>Evergreen Lodge, Tortuguero, Costa Rica</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="6">
  <title>Tortuguero treasures</title>
  <description>Wake up to the sounds of the rainforest.  Eleven different habitats have been identified in the surrounding wilderness, including 60 kinds of mammals, 57 species of amphibians, 111 varieties of reptiles and more than 309 recorded species of birds! Cruise the park&apos;s rivers and canals with an expert naturalist guide, then visit a local village and the Caribbean Conservation Center to see how these ecosystems are being protected for the future.  Meals BLD</description>
  <overnight>Evergreen Lodge, Tortuguero, Costa Rica</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="7">
  <title>A cup of joe in San Jos&amp;#233;</title>
  <description>Fly back to San Jos&amp;#233;.  We&apos;ll take you behind the scenes to see how coffee is made from seed to the cup on a guided tour of a coffee farm flavored with history and tradition.  Spend the afternoon at your resort and join us tonight for a farewell dinner.  Meals BLD</description>
  <overnight>Real InterContinental Hotel &amp; Club Tower Costa Rica, San José, Costa Rica</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="8">
  <title>Adios Amigos - journey home</title>
  <description>Tour ends: San José. Fly home anytime. Airport transfers are included from the hotel; allow 2 1/2 hours for check-in.</description>
  <overnight></overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast</meals>
</itineraryDay>
  </itineraryDetails>
  <highlights>
		
				Hacienda Fun ~ Arenal Volcano ~ Sky Tram ~ Jungle Cruise ~ Tilajari Resort ~ Tortuguero Nat’l Park 
</highlights>
  <tauckValues>
    <value order="1">Family fun at a hacienda at the foot of a volcano featuring waterfall swimming, horseback riding and river tubing</value><value order="2">Private Arenal lake cruise &amp; a sky tram or zip-line adventure</value><value order="3">Jungle river-rafting adventure with an expert wildlife guide; private home visit with a farmer whose family have lived along the river for generations</value><value order="4">Guided tours of an organic pineapple plantation and coffee farms</value><value order="5">Explore Tortuguero National Park with expert naturalists;  includes a canal cruise, nature hike, and the Caribbean Conservation Center</value><value order="6">Spanish lesson with a local</value><value order="7">19 meals (7 breakfasts, 5 lunches, 7 dinners)</value><value order="8">All gratuities to Tauck Director, local guides &amp; drivers; service charges, taxes, porterage and airport transfers</value>
  </tauckValues>  
  <departureDates>
    <date>
    <day>6</day>
    <month>6</month>
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    <triplesPrice>2099</triplesPrice>
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  </date>
  <date>
    <day>20</day>
    <month>6</month>
    <year>2010</year>
    <singlesPrice>2477</singlesPrice>
    <doublesPrice>2190</doublesPrice>
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  </date>
  <date>
    <day>27</day>
    <month>6</month>
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    <triplesPrice>2099</triplesPrice>
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  </date>
  <date>
    <day>8</day>
    <month>7</month>
    <year>2010</year>
    <singlesPrice>2477</singlesPrice>
    <doublesPrice>2190</doublesPrice>
    <triplesPrice>2099</triplesPrice>
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  </date>
  <date>
    <day>15</day>
    <month>7</month>
    <year>2010</year>
    <singlesPrice>2477</singlesPrice>
    <doublesPrice>2190</doublesPrice>
    <triplesPrice>2099</triplesPrice>
    <quadsPrice>0</quadsPrice>
    
  </date>
  <date>
    <day>29</day>
    <month>7</month>
    <year>2010</year>
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    <triplesPrice>2099</triplesPrice>
    <quadsPrice>0</quadsPrice>
    
  </date>
  <date>
    <day>5</day>
    <month>8</month>
    <year>2010</year>
    <singlesPrice>2477</singlesPrice>
    <doublesPrice>2190</doublesPrice>
    <triplesPrice>2099</triplesPrice>
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  </date>
  <date>
    <day>19</day>
    <month>12</month>
    <year>2010</year>
    <singlesPrice>2989</singlesPrice>
    <doublesPrice>2590</doublesPrice>
    <triplesPrice>2457</triplesPrice>
    <quadsPrice>0</quadsPrice>
    
  </date>
  <date>
    <day>21</day>
    <month>12</month>
    <year>2010</year>
    <singlesPrice>2989</singlesPrice>
    <doublesPrice>2590</doublesPrice>
    <triplesPrice>2457</triplesPrice>
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</tour><tour>
  <sourceId>YP2010</sourceId>
  <title>Majestic California: The Pacific, Redwoods &amp; Yosemite</title>
  <summary>
    <![CDATA[		
Family FYI: Did you know that Yosemite National Park&apos;s Giant Sequoia Trees are the largest living things on earth, but their seeds are no bigger than a flake of oatmeal? Cruise under the Golden Gate Bridge, pan for gold, ride a moonlight train and more with your family on our new California travel adventure, Majestic California: The Pacific, Redwoods &amp; Yosemite!
]]>
  </summary>
  <description>
    <![CDATA[California, here we come! Our California travel family adventure takes you from California&apos;s shining seas to its giant trees as you explore San Francisco, Yosemite National Park and the Monterey Peninsula together. You&apos;ll travel under the famous Golden Gate Bridge and discover &quot;the city by the bay&quot; from a hotel right at Fisherman&apos;s Wharf. Under the &quot;living roof&quot; of the California Academy of Sciences, you&apos;ll learn lots of awesome things about the world around us. In central California travel back to the Gold Rush era... and see cutting-edge technology that provides more and more of our electricity as the 21st century unfolds. You&apos;ll never believe all that there is to see and do in Yosemite – or forget all the cool activities we&apos;ve planned for your family in and around the park, including a moonlight dinner train ride in Sierra National Forest. Continuing on through California travel back toward the coast and the Monterey Peninsula, where you&apos;ll visit the amazing Monterey Bay Aquarium and choose a walking tour of Old Monterey, a bike ride or a kayak adventure. It&apos;s all part of your family&apos;s unforgettable California travel experience from Tauck!
]]>
  </description>
  <link>http://family-travel.tauck.com/tours/usa-tours/western-usa-travel/california-travel-yp-2010</link>
  <durationDays>8</durationDays>
  <durationDetails>8 days and 7 nights.</durationDetails>
  <tripType>ESCORTED_TOUR</tripType>
  <brand>Bridges</brand>
  <subbrand>Bridges</subbrand>
  <gradeRating>ALL_AGES</gradeRating>
  <comfortRating>COMFORTABLE_MIXED</comfortRating>
  <startingLocation>San Francisco, California</startingLocation>
  <prices>
    <price currency="USD">2635</price>
    <priceDetails><![CDATA[All prices are per person in U.S. dollars. ]]></priceDetails>
  </prices>
  <images>
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  <itinerary>
    <![CDATA[California, here we come... on an unforgettable Tauck Bridges family adventure through the best of the “Golden State”! From fantastic San Francisco and the Golden Gate Bridge to the wonders of Yosemite, a grove of giant sequoias hundreds of years old, the legends and lore of Gold Rush country and the oceanfront treasures of Monterey Bay, you’ll have so much family fun you’ll forget how much you’re discovering along the way! Accommodations close to Fisherman’s Wharf, at a classic wilderness lodge just outside Yosemite, and in a historic hacienda resort in Monterey put you right in the heart of it all!

Cruise under and cross over the Golden Gate Bridge, and discover Fisherman’s Wharf in one-of-a-kind San Francisco. See splashing penguins and more at the newly reopened California Academy of Sciences. Pan for gold just like the old-time prospectors did in a historic Gold Rush town. Discover Yosemite’s wonders via open-air tram. Ride back in time aboard a moonlight dinner train in Sierra National Forest. See giant sequoias hundreds of years old as you ride a tram through the Mariposa Grove. Meet delightful marine life on a behind-the-scenes tour of the award-winning Monterey Bay Aquarium. Choose to go biking, kayaking or setting off on a walking tour of seaside Monterey.

Day 1 – Arrive San Francisco
Tour begins: 6:00 PM, Hyatt at Fisherman’s Wharf. A transfer is included from San Francisco International Airport to the ideally located Hyatt at Fisherman’s Wharf. We’ll kick off your family adventure at tonight’s welcome reception in the “city by the bay.” Meals D

Day 2 – Penguins, planets &amp; a bay cruise in San Francisco 
With beautiful San Francisco Bay, all those famous hills – the city is built on 43 of them – and the spectacular Golden Gate Bridge dominating its skyline, San Francisco is one of the most recognizable cities on earth... and tons of fun to visit! A busy day of exploration in the “world’s favorite city” begins with a city sightseeing tour that takes you to the newly rebuilt California Academy of Sciences for a visit. Bursting with life from the splashing penguins in African Hall to the wildflowers on its 2.5 acre “living roof,” this landmark of “green” architecture features a planetarium, natural history museum, aquarium and living rainforest. This afternoon join us on a narrated cruise of San Francisco Bay; pass under the Golden Gate Bridge and see historic Alcatraz Island. The evening is free to enjoy as you wish. Meals BL

Day 3 – Travel through time in Gold Rush country
Set out from San Francisco toward the Sierra Nevada Mountains today, stopping at a wind farm. Those “aliens” you’ll see are wind turbines that help turn wind power into electricity! Continue on to Jamestown for lunch in a historic 1859 hotel. Your destination today is the Tenaya Lodge, a classic mountain resort just outside Yosemite National Park’s southern gate in the Sierra National Forest. If you wish, don climbing gear for the chance to tackle the lodge’s rock-climbing wall*, exclusive to Tauck guests until 7:00 PM; enjoy dinner at leisure. Meals BLD

Day 4 – Giant trees &amp; a ride on a moonlight dinner train
Some of the biggest living things on earth reside just a short drive from your lodge in Yosemite National Park’s Mariposa Grove, home to a grove of giant sequoias hundreds of years old! See them up-close today aboard the Big Trees Tram Tour, winding your way among these living treasures. As you ride, look up... and up... and up... at humongous sequoias whose colorful names include the Bachelor and Three Graces, the Faithful Couple, and the famous Grizzly Giant. After lunch on your own, try your luck at panning for gold, just like the old-time prospectors did. Tonight, an evening aboard the Yosemite Mountain Sugar Pine Railroad’s Moonlight Special begins with a barbecue dinner, accompanied by the melodies of the Sugar Pine Singers. Then it’s “all aboard” The Logger for a narrow-gauge rail excursion powered by a restored vintage Shay steam locomotive. Gather around the campfire for a sing-along during a stopover in the canyon, and hear that lonesome whistle blow as you chug home in the moonlight! Meals BD

Day 5 – A tram ride in Yosemite &amp; “flashlight hike”
Yosemite National Park contains five of North America’s seven “life zones”; discover its magnificent waterfalls, glacier-hewn gorges and towering granite walls with your family today! This morning’s open-air tram ride along the floor of the spectacular Yosemite Valley is a great way to see many of the park’s highlights. You can choose to return to Tenaya Lodge for lunch on your own and an afternoon spent swimming, hiking, or engaging in optional activities such as mountain biking or horseback riding. Or explore Yosemite as you please; it’s the perfect place to wade in a river, take a hike or participate in one of the park’s ranger programs. Your family adventures continue after sunset on tonight’s guided “flashlight hike” in the Sierra National Forest; see nature in a whole different light – literally – as you explore the wilderness by flashlight and by starlight. Meals B

Day 6 – Through farmland &amp; mountains to Monterey
Say goodbye to the wonders of Yosemite National Park as you set off across the heart of northern California for the Pacific Coast. On your way, visit the Mariposa Museum &amp; History Center, chronicling the history and diverse cultures of Mariposa County. See California’s only operational five-stamp gold ore mill, a one-room miner’s cabin, an authentic “Mother Lode” saloon, a one-room school and an extensive Miwok Indian display. Your travels continue westward across the San Joaquin Valley and into Merced for a rollicking fun lunch at Big Bubba’s Bad BBQ, complete with western-themed entertainment, a tree house to climb in and a mechanical bull to ride*. Travel through the scenic Coast Mountains to the California coast this afternoon and tour the Monterey Peninsula along the 17-Mile Drive to the renowned Pebble Beach golf course. Spend the next two nights in seaside Monterey at the Portola Hotel &amp; Spa, right on Fisherman’s Wharf, near Cannery Row and the Monterey Bay Aquarium. Meals BL

Day 7 – Aquatic adventures on Monterey Bay
Start the day with your choice of included “adventures by the sea.” You can choose a bicycle tour* along the coast, a kayak adventure* in Monterey Bay, or a self-guided walking tour of old Monterey, once the capital of California. Join us for a behind-the-scenes visit at the award-winning Monterey Bay Aquarium in late afternoon. It borders one of the largest underwater canyons on earth and is home to more than 350,000 marine animals and plants. Its 200 galleries and exhibits introduce you to an amazing underwater world, including giant octopuses, jellyfish, large green sea turtles, barracuda, sharks and coral reefs, as well as natural displays that showcase playful otters and endearing black-footed penguins. Your visit ends with a special farewell dinner right here at the Aquarium in seaside Monterey. Meals BD 

Day 8 – Journey home
Tour ends: Monterey. Fly home any time; a transfer is included from Portola Hotel &amp; Spa to Monterey Peninsula Airport. For those flying home from San Francisco International Airport, one group transfer is included from Monterey for flights departing after 12:00 noon. You should allow 2 1/2 hours for check-in. Meals B

]]>
  </itinerary>
  <itineraryDetails>
    <itineraryDay day="1">
  <title>Arrive San Francisco</title>
  <description>Tour begins: 6:00 PM, Hyatt at Fisherman’s Wharf. A transfer is included from San Francisco International Airport to the ideally located Hyatt at Fisherman’s Wharf. We’ll kick off your family adventure at tonight’s welcome reception in the “city by the bay.”</description>
  <overnight>Hyatt at Fisherman’s Wharf, San Francisco</overnight>
  <meals>Dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="2">
  <title>Penguins, planets &amp; a bay cruise in San Francisco</title>
  <description>With beautiful San Francisco Bay, all those famous hills – the city is built on 43 of them – and the spectacular Golden Gate Bridge dominating its skyline, San Francisco is one of the most recognizable cities on earth... and tons of fun to visit! A busy day of exploration in the “world’s favorite city” begins with a city sightseeing tour that takes you to the newly rebuilt California Academy of Sciences for a visit. Bursting with life from the splashing penguins in African Hall to the wildflowers on its 2.5 acre “living roof,” this landmark of “green” architecture features a planetarium, natural history museum, aquarium and living rainforest. This afternoon join us on a narrated cruise of San Francisco Bay; pass under the Golden Gate Bridge and see historic Alcatraz Island. The evening is free to enjoy as you wish.</description>
  <overnight>Hyatt at Fisherman’s Wharf, San Francisco</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="3">
  <title>Travel through time in Gold Rush country</title>
  <description>Set out from San Francisco toward the Sierra Nevada Mountains today, stopping at a wind farm. Those “aliens” you’ll see are wind turbines that help turn wind power into electricity! Continue on to Jamestown for lunch in a historic 1859 hotel. Your destination today is the Tenaya Lodge, a classic mountain resort just outside Yosemite National Park’s southern gate in the Sierra National Forest. If you wish, don climbing gear for the chance to tackle the lodge’s rock-climbing wall*, exclusive to Tauck guests until 7:00 PM; enjoy dinner at leisure.</description>
  <overnight>Tenaya Lodge at Yosemite, Fish Camp, CA</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="4">
  <title>Giant trees &amp; a ride on a moonlight dinner train</title>
  <description>Yosemite National Park contains five of North America’s seven “life zones”; discover its magnificent waterfalls, glacier-hewn gorges and towering granite walls with your family today! This morning’s open-air tram ride along the floor of the spectacular Yosemite Valley is a great way to see many of the park’s highlights. You can choose to return to Tenaya Lodge for lunch on your own and an afternoon spent swimming, hiking, or engaging in optional activities such as mountain biking or horseback riding. Or explore Yosemite as you please; it’s the perfect place to wade in a river, take a hike or participate in one of the park’s ranger programs. Your family adventures continue after sunset on tonight’s guided “flashlight hike” in the Sierra National Forest; see nature in a whole different light – literally – as you explore the wilderness by flashlight and by starlight.</description>
  <overnight>Tenaya Lodge at Yosemite, Fish Camp, CA</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="5">
  <title>A tram ride in Yosemite &amp; &quot;flashlight hike&quot;</title>
  <description>Yosemite National Park contains five of North America’s seven “life zones”; discover its magnificent waterfalls, glacier-hewn gorges and towering granite walls with your family today! This morning’s open-air tram ride along the floor of the spectacular Yosemite Valley is a great way to see many of the park’s highlights. You can choose to return to Tenaya Lodge for lunch on your own and an afternoon spent swimming, hiking, or engaging in optional activities such as mountain biking or horseback riding. Or explore Yosemite as you please; it’s the perfect place to wade in a river, take a hike or participate in one of the park’s ranger programs. Your family adventures continue after sunset on tonight’s guided “flashlight hike” in the Sierra National Forest; see nature in a whole different light – literally – as you explore the wilderness by flashlight and by starlight.</description>
  <overnight>Tenaya Lodge at Yosemite, Fish Camp, CA</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="6">
  <title>Through farmland &amp; mountains to Monterey</title>
  <description>Say goodbye to the wonders of Yosemite National Park as you set off across the heart of northern California for the Pacific Coast. On your way, visit the Mariposa Museum &amp;amp; History Center, chronicling the history and diverse cultures of Mariposa County. See California’s only operational five-stamp gold ore mill, a one-room miner’s cabin, an authentic “Mother Lode” saloon, a one-room school and an extensive Miwok Indian display. Your travels continue westward across the San Joaquin Valley and into Merced for a rollicking fun lunch at Big Bubba’s Bad BBQ, complete with western-themed entertainment, a tree house to climb in and a mechanical bull to ride*. Travel through the scenic Coast Mountains to the California coast this afternoon and tour the Monterey Peninsula along the 17-Mile Drive to the renowned Pebble Beach golf course. Spend the next two nights in seaside Monterey at the Portola Hotel &amp;amp; Spa, right on Fisherman’s Wharf, near Cannery Row and the Monterey Bay Aquarium.</description>
  <overnight>Portola Hotel &amp; Spa, Monterey, CA</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="7">
  <title>Aquatic adventures on Monterey Bay</title>
  <description>Start the day with your choice of included “adventures by the sea.” You can choose a bicycle tour* along the coast, a kayak adventure* in Monterey Bay, or a self-guided walking tour of old Monterey, once the capital of California. Join us for a behind-the-scenes visit at the award-winning Monterey Bay Aquarium in late afternoon. It borders one of the largest underwater canyons on earth and is home to more than 350,000 marine animals and plants. Its 200 galleries and exhibits introduce you to an amazing underwater world, including giant octopuses, jellyfish, large green sea turtles, barracuda, sharks and coral reefs, as well as natural displays that showcase playful otters and endearing black-footed penguins. Your visit ends with a special farewell dinner right here at the Aquarium in seaside Monterey.</description>
  <overnight>Portola Hotel &amp; Spa, Monterey, CA</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="8">
  <title>Journey Home</title>
  <description>Tour ends: Monterey. Fly home any time; a transfer is included from Portola Hotel &amp;amp; Spa to Monterey Peninsula Airport. For those flying home from San Francisco International Airport, one group transfer is included from Monterey for flights departing after 12:00 noon. You should allow 2 1/2 hours for check-in.</description>
  <overnight></overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast</meals>
</itineraryDay>
  </itineraryDetails>
  <highlights>
		
				San Francisco ~ Fisherman’s Wharf  ~ Narrated Bay Cruise ~ Academy of Sciences ~ Gold Rush Country ~ Yosemite Tram Ride ~ Moonlight Train ~ Giant Sequoias ~ Monterey Aquarium ~ 17-Mile Drive ~ Adventures by the Sea 
</highlights>
  <tauckValues>
    <value order="1">Fun in Yosemite and Sierra National Forest with tram rides, gold panning, hiking and rock-wall climbing</value><value order="2">A moonlight ride aboard a narrow-gauge vintage steam train to a campfire in a forest</value><value order="3">An evening flashlight hike in Sierra National Forest</value><value order="4">A visit to the California Academy of Sciences and a narrated cruise of San Francisco Bay</value><value order="5">A special behind-the-scenes tour of Monterey Bay Aquarium, site of an unforgettable farewell dinner</value><value order="6">Choice of kayaking or coastal bike tour in Monterey</value><value order="7">14 meals (7 breakfasts, 3 lunches, 4 dinners)</value><value order="8">All gratuities to Tauck Director, local guides &amp; drivers; service charges, taxes, porterage and airport transfers</value>
  </tauckValues>  
  <departureDates>
    <date>
    <day>6</day>
    <month>6</month>
    <year>2010</year>
    <singlesPrice>3629</singlesPrice>
    <doublesPrice>2950</doublesPrice>
    <triplesPrice>2754</triplesPrice>
    <quadsPrice>2635</quadsPrice>
    
  </date>
  <date>
    <day>27</day>
    <month>6</month>
    <year>2010</year>
    <singlesPrice>3629</singlesPrice>
    <doublesPrice>2950</doublesPrice>
    <triplesPrice>2754</triplesPrice>
    <quadsPrice>2635</quadsPrice>
    
  </date>
  <date>
    <day>4</day>
    <month>7</month>
    <year>2010</year>
    <singlesPrice>3629</singlesPrice>
    <doublesPrice>2950</doublesPrice>
    <triplesPrice>2754</triplesPrice>
    <quadsPrice>2635</quadsPrice>
    
  </date>
  <date>
    <day>18</day>
    <month>7</month>
    <year>2010</year>
    <singlesPrice>3629</singlesPrice>
    <doublesPrice>2950</doublesPrice>
    <triplesPrice>2754</triplesPrice>
    <quadsPrice>2635</quadsPrice>
    
  </date>
  <date>
    <day>22</day>
    <month>8</month>
    <year>2010</year>
    <singlesPrice>3629</singlesPrice>
    <doublesPrice>2950</doublesPrice>
    <triplesPrice>2754</triplesPrice>
    <quadsPrice>2635</quadsPrice>
    
  </date>

</departureDates>

</tour><tour>
  <sourceId>YR2010</sourceId>
  <title>Wonders of the Canadian Rockies</title>
  <summary>
    <![CDATA[		Family FYI: Did you know that you can still see ripple marks made by waves millions of years ago in the rocks of Maligne Canyon? Get set for real adventure as your family explores western Canada&apos;s mountains, national parks, and wildlife on this most fun-filled of Canadian Rockies tours.
]]>
  </summary>
  <description>
    <![CDATA[As you imagine Canadian Rockies tours with your family, do you see in your mind&apos;s eye... hiking, rafting, canoeing... viewing moose, bald eagles and bighorn sheep... staying at great resorts in the heart of the national parks? Do all that and more! Ride an Ice Explorer across a glacier... raft down the Athabasca River... hop on a cable car to see six different mountain ranges at one time... explore the towering limestone walls and fossil-imprinted rocks of Maligne Canyon... and much more on this most excellent of family Canadian Rockies tours from Tauck Bridges!
]]>
  </description>
  <link>http://family-travel.tauck.com/tours/canada-tours/western-canada-tours/canadian-rockies-tours-yr-2010</link>
  <durationDays>7</durationDays>
  <durationDetails>7 days and 6 nights.</durationDetails>
  <tripType>ESCORTED_TOUR</tripType>
  <brand>Bridges</brand>
  <subbrand>Bridges</subbrand>
  <gradeRating>ALL_AGES</gradeRating>
  <comfortRating>COMFORTABLE_MIXED</comfortRating>
  <startingLocation>Calgary, Alberta, Canada</startingLocation>
  <prices>
    <price currency="USD">2592</price>
    <priceDetails><![CDATA[All prices are per person in U.S. dollars. ]]></priceDetails>
  </prices>
  <images>
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  <itinerary>
    <![CDATA[Stay right inside Banff and Jasper national parks, at three of the best mountain resorts in North America. Glide on the surface of Athabasca Glacier in a specially designed “Ice Explorer” vehicle. Take a river-rafting trip along a glacier-fed river. Enjoy bicycling, boating, tennis and more with an included Fun Card at The Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge. Look for moose, elk and other wildlife as you travel among the glaciers and snow-capped mountains along the Icefields Parkway.

Day 1 – Arrive Calgary and head to Lake Louise
Tour departs: 3:00 PM from Calgary Int’l Airport. For guests who are spending the previous night in Calgary, an airport transfer from Calgary Int’l Airport to The Fairmont Palliser is included; pick-up time today will be 1:00 PM at The Fairmont Palliser. Travel to Lake Louise where things get off to a great start at tonight’s welcome reception and dinner. Meals D

Day 2 – Icefields Parkway, one of the world’s great drives 
Start an amazing day in the Rockies with a hike at Lake Louise; after lunch, set off on an unforgettable journey along the Icefields Parkway to Jasper National Park. Look around and you’ll see why this stretch of highway is world-famous – there are mountains, glaciers, waterfalls and snowfields as far as you can see... not to mention the moose, deer, bighorn sheep, mountain goats, or bears you might spy along the way! Arrive at your home for the next three nights – an incredible lakefront resort right in the heart of Jasper National Park. Meals BD

Day 3 – Hike, bike, canoe... in Jasper National Park
It’s a day of fun, your way, in Jasper National Park. Go on a bike ride, take a boat or canoe on the lake, hit some balls on the tennis court or at the driving range – thanks to the Summer Resort Activities Card* Tauck guests receive; the card is good for the entire time you’re staying in Jasper. Or take advantage of optional activities (available at an additional charge), such as golf and horseback riding. You’ll have a great opportunity late afternoon to talk with a park official about how wildlife is observed and monitored at a presentation on the natural history, legends and lore of Canada’s national parks. Join us for a lakeside barbecue tonight, where the air is fragrant with aspen, fir, spruce and lodgepole pine. Meals BD

Day 4 – Explore Maligne Canyon and go river rafting  
Check out cascading waterfalls, mysterious potholes, age-old fossils, lush plant life and towering, chalky limestone walls as you explore Maligne Canyon in Jasper National Park. One of the most beautiful canyons in the Rockies, it was created about 160 million years ago by churning waters swirling through the Palliser Formation, a layer of limestone once covered by a shallow tropical sea. Look for the ripple marks of ancient waves imprinted on the rocks, as well as nesting ravens and rare black swifts. Then take off on a whitewater raft trip* along the glacier-fed Athabasca River, fresh from the Columbia Icefield. Meals BD

Day 5 – Ride an Ice Explorer on a glacier 
Get set for an amazing day in the Columbia Icefield. As you step across glacial ice more than 400 years old, look up and you’ll see what look like tiny toy trucks crawling along the ice. They’re specially designed Ice Explorer vehicles ‚Äì and in a few minutes, you’ll be in one of them, climbing up the surface of Athabasca Glacier! Later, watch for soaring eagles, hawks, grizzlies and caribou as you return to the Icefields Parkway. Wind your way between snow-domed peaks and immense hanging glaciers to Banff where you’ll stay at a “castle in the mountains.” Meals BL

Day 6 – Cruise, hike, bowl (!) in Banff National Park
Fact and fiction, legends and folklore – hear tales of the First Nations people and early explorers during a private cruise on Lake Minnewanka, offering some of the most interesting scenery in the Rockies. Go to the top of the mountain (literally) aboard the Banff Gondola – amazing views for terrific photographs of six mountain ranges. Think alpine chic, and that’s the town of Banff; there’s something sure to please every member of the family on an afternoon free to explore as you please. We’ve included the Banff Heritage Pass to give you admission to the historic Cave and Basin National Historic Site (worth the visit!), the Whyte Museum and the Banff Park Museum. In the tradition of classic mountain resorts, be sure to check out the world-class Willow Stream Spa, perhaps while other family members are getting in a round of golf on a championship course. Tonight’s farewell bowling reception, featuring Canadian-style five-pin bowling at the Banff Bowling Center, is a fun way to wrap up an unforgettable family adventure! Meals BD

Day 7 – Journey Home
Travel back to Calgary this morning (approximately 80 miles). Tour ends: Calgary International Airport at 10:00 AM. Guests spending additional nights in Calgary will be transferred to The Fairmont Palliser upon arrival; a transfer from The Fairmont Palliser to Calgary International Airport is included. Allow a minimum of two hours for check-in. Meals B

]]>
  </itinerary>
  <itineraryDetails>
    <itineraryDay day="1">
  <title>Arrive Calgary and head to Lake Louise</title>
  <description>Tour departs: 3:00 PM from Calgary Int’l Airport. For guests who are spending the previous night in Calgary, an airport transfer from Calgary Int’l Airport to The Fairmont Palliser is included; pick-up time today will be 1:00 PM at The Fairmont Palliser. Travel to Lake Louise where things get off to a great start at tonight’s welcome reception and dinner.</description>
  <overnight>The Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise, Banff National Park, AB</overnight>
  <meals>Dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="2">
  <title>Icefields Parkway, one of the world&apos;s great drives</title>
  <description>Start an amazing day in the Rockies with a hike at Lake Louise; after lunch, set off on an unforgettable journey along the Icefields Parkway to Jasper National Park. Look around and you’ll see why this stretch of highway is world-famous – there are mountains, glaciers, waterfalls and snowfields as far as you can see... not to mention the moose, deer, bighorn sheep, mountain goats, or bears you might spy along the way! Arrive at your home for the next three nights – an incredible lakefront resort right in the heart of Jasper National Park.</description>
  <overnight>The Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge, Jasper National Park, AB</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="3">
  <title>Hike, bike, canoe... in Jasper National Park</title>
  <description>It’s a day of fun, your way, in Jasper National Park. Go on a bike ride, take a boat or canoe on the lake, hit some balls on the tennis court or at the driving range – thanks to the Summer Resort Activities Card* Tauck guests receive; the card is good for the entire time you’re staying in Jasper. Or take advantage of optional activities (available at an additional charge), such as golf and horseback riding. You’ll have a great opportunity late afternoon to talk with a park official about how wildlife is observed and monitored at a presentation on the natural history, legends and lore of Canada’s national parks. Join us for a lakeside barbecue tonight, where the air is fragrant with aspen, fir, spruce and lodgepole pine.</description>
  <overnight>The Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge, Jasper National Park, AB</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="4">
  <title>Explore Maligne Canyon and go river rafting</title>
  <description>Check out cascading waterfalls, mysterious potholes, age-old fossils, lush plant life and towering, chalky limestone walls as you explore Maligne Canyon in Jasper National Park. One of the most beautiful canyons in the Rockies, it was created about 160 million years ago by churning waters swirling through the Palliser Formation, a layer of limestone once covered by a shallow tropical sea. Look for the ripple marks of ancient waves imprinted on the rocks, as well as nesting ravens and rare black swifts. Then take off on a whitewater raft trip* along the glacier-fed Athabasca River, fresh from the Columbia Icefield.</description>
  <overnight>The Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge, Jasper National Park, AB</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="5">
  <title>Ride an Ice Explorer on a glacier</title>
  <description>Get set for an amazing day in the Columbia Icefield. As you step across glacial ice more than 400 years old, look up and you’ll see what look like tiny toy trucks crawling along the ice. They’re specially designed Ice Explorer vehicles ‚Äì and in a few minutes, you’ll be in one of them, climbing up the surface of Athabasca Glacier! Later, watch for soaring eagles, hawks, grizzlies and caribou as you return to the Icefields Parkway. Wind your way between snow-domed peaks and immense hanging glaciers to Banff where you’ll stay at a “castle in the mountains.”</description>
  <overnight>The Fairmont Banff Springs, Banff National Park, AB</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="6">
  <title>Cruise, hike, bowl (!) in Banff National Park</title>
  <description>Fact and fiction, legends and folklore – hear tales of the First Nations people and early explorers during a private cruise on Lake Minnewanka, offering some of the most interesting scenery in the Rockies. Go to the top of the mountain (literally) aboard the Banff Gondola – amazing views for terrific photographs of six mountain ranges. Think alpine chic, and that’s the town of Banff; there’s something sure to please every member of the family on an afternoon free to explore as you please. We’ve included the Banff Heritage Pass to give you admission to the historic Cave and Basin National Historic Site (worth the visit!), the Whyte Museum and the Banff Park Museum. In the tradition of classic mountain resorts, be sure to check out the world-class Willow Stream Spa, perhaps while other family members are getting in a round of golf on a championship course. Tonight’s farewell bowling reception, featuring Canadian-style five-pin bowling at the Banff Bowling Center, is a fun way to wrap up an unforgettable family adventure!</description>
  <overnight>The Fairmont Banff Springs, Banff National Park, AB</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="7">
  <title>Journey Home</title>
  <description>Travel back to Calgary this morning (approximately 80 miles). Tour ends: Calgary International Airport at 10:00 AM. Guests spending additional nights in Calgary will be transferred to The Fairmont Palliser upon arrival; a transfer from The Fairmont Palliser to Calgary International Airport is included. Allow a minimum of two hours for check-in.</description>
  <overnight></overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast</meals>
</itineraryDay>
  </itineraryDetails>
  <highlights> Calgary ~ Lake Louise ~ Icefields Parkway ~ Jasper National Park ~ Banff National Park ~ Columbia Icefield 
Athabasca Glacier ~ Banff Museums
</highlights>
  <tauckValues>
    <value order="1">Bicycling, canoeing, boating, tennis, swimming, hitting balls at the driving range and more at Jasper National Park with a Summer Resort Activities Card</value><value order="2">Climbing up the surface of Athabasca Glacier aboard the Ice Explorer</value><value order="3">6 nights at three premier inside-the-park resorts in Banff &amp; Jasper national parks</value><value order="4">A lakeside barbecue supper in Jasper National Park</value><value order="5">Private cruise on scenic Lake Minnewanka to hear tales of the First Nations people and early explorers</value><value order="6">Whitewater river-rafting trip on the Athabasca River</value><value order="7">12 meals (6 breakfasts, 1 lunch, 5 dinners)</value><value order="8">All gratuities to Tauck Director, local guides &amp; drivers; service charges, taxes, porterage and airport transfers</value>
  </tauckValues>  
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    <date>
    <day>12</day>
    <month>6</month>
    <year>2010</year>
    <singlesPrice>3378</singlesPrice>
    <doublesPrice>2790</doublesPrice>
    <triplesPrice>2658</triplesPrice>
    <quadsPrice>2592</quadsPrice>
    
  </date>
  <date>
    <day>19</day>
    <month>6</month>
    <year>2010</year>
    <singlesPrice>3378</singlesPrice>
    <doublesPrice>2790</doublesPrice>
    <triplesPrice>2658</triplesPrice>
    <quadsPrice>2592</quadsPrice>
    
  </date>
  <date>
    <day>3</day>
    <month>7</month>
    <year>2010</year>
    <singlesPrice>3378</singlesPrice>
    <doublesPrice>2790</doublesPrice>
    <triplesPrice>2658</triplesPrice>
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  </date>
  <date>
    <day>10</day>
    <month>7</month>
    <year>2010</year>
    <singlesPrice>3378</singlesPrice>
    <doublesPrice>2790</doublesPrice>
    <triplesPrice>2658</triplesPrice>
    <quadsPrice>2592</quadsPrice>
    
  </date>
  <date>
    <day>17</day>
    <month>7</month>
    <year>2010</year>
    <singlesPrice>3378</singlesPrice>
    <doublesPrice>2790</doublesPrice>
    <triplesPrice>2658</triplesPrice>
    <quadsPrice>2592</quadsPrice>
    
  </date>
  <date>
    <day>31</day>
    <month>7</month>
    <year>2010</year>
    <singlesPrice>3378</singlesPrice>
    <doublesPrice>2790</doublesPrice>
    <triplesPrice>2658</triplesPrice>
    <quadsPrice>2592</quadsPrice>
    
  </date>
  <date>
    <day>14</day>
    <month>8</month>
    <year>2010</year>
    <singlesPrice>3378</singlesPrice>
    <doublesPrice>2790</doublesPrice>
    <triplesPrice>2658</triplesPrice>
    <quadsPrice>2592</quadsPrice>
    
  </date>

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</tour><tour>
  <sourceId>YUW2010</sourceId>
  <title>Blue Danube: Family Riverboat Adventure</title>
  <summary>
    <![CDATA[		Family FYI: Did you know that the movie The Third Man was filmed at the Vienna Prater at the famous Giant Ferris Wheel? See the Old World through new eyes on one of our newest Europe tours – a family-friendly 7-night Danube riverboat cruise filled with fun, adventure and surprises in some of Europe&apos;s greatest cities – and a visit to the Vienna Prater for a ride on the famous ferris wheel!
]]>
  </summary>
  <description>
    <![CDATA[Tauck Bridges&apos; new Blue Danube: Family Riverboat Adventure beckons to families looking for family fun on Europe&apos;s best riverboat cruise! There is no easier, and no better, way to see so much of the heart of Europe than on a leisurely cruise along the &quot;River of Kings&quot; with your family aboard the well-appointed ms Swiss Sapphire. Unpack only once as you travel from Budapest, Hungary, to Slovakia, Austria and Germany, enjoying action-packed shore excursions specially designed for Tauck Bridges families. Go on a scavenger hunt in Bratislava, Slovakia. Soar over Vienna on the Riesenrad in the Prater, the city&apos;s famous amusement park (made famous in The Third Man). Learn how to make strüdel onboard the riverboat. Visit Schönbrunn Palace, an awesome &quot;real&quot; palace that Empress Maria Theresa, her daughter Marie Antoinette and even Napoleon once called home! Bike along the Danube and discover the tricky secrets of Schloss Hellbrunn in Salzburg. End this coolest of family Europe tours in Passau, Germany, by checking out Europe&apos;s biggest pipe organ and making yourself something yummy with marzipan. 

Note: Embarking in Budapest, Hungary, and disembarking in Regensburg, Germany, these special Tauck Bridges departures consist of the 8-day, cruise-only segment of Tauck World Discovery&apos;s 12-day journey, The Blue Danube; Tauck Bridges&apos; guests join that longer journey on day 3 and depart on day 10.
]]>
  </description>
  <link>http://family-travel.tauck.com/tours/europe-tours/central-and-eastern-europe-tours/danube-river-cruises-yuw-2010</link>
  <durationDays>8</durationDays>
  <durationDetails>8 days and 7 nights.</durationDetails>
  <tripType>ESCORTED_CRUISE</tripType>
  <brand>Bridges</brand>
  <subbrand>Bridges</subbrand>
  <gradeRating>ALL_AGES</gradeRating>
  <comfortRating>COMFORTABLE_MIXED</comfortRating>
  <startingLocation>Budapest, Hungary</startingLocation>
  <prices>
    <price currency="USD">2790</price>
    <priceDetails><![CDATA[All prices are per person in U.S. dollars. ]]></priceDetails>
  </prices>
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  <itinerary>
    <![CDATA[Go on a scavenger hunt in Bratislava, state capital of Slovakia, where famous composers are remembered in plaques and peculiar statues reside. Learn to make Vienna’s famous strüdel aboard the riverboat. Explore the Maze at Schönbrunn Palace and see the world’s oldest zoo. Go on a bicycle tour along the Blue Danube. Marvel at a mechanical wonderland of trick fountains and other surprises at Hellbrunn Castle. Discover the secrets of marzipan-making and more in the riverside city of Passau. Remember The Third Man? Ride the famous ferris wheel at the Vienna Prater, the city’s historic amusement park. Spend an evening at a traditional palace in Vienna – and you’ll feel like you’ve entered a fairy tale. Royals and rascals alike come to life as you explore grand Imperial cities including Vienna, Salzburg and Bratislava. 

• = Cruise day

• 1. Arrive Budapest / Begin your riverboat cruise along the Danube
Tour begins: 2:00 PM, Budapest, Hungary. A transfer is included from Budapest’s Ferihegy Airport directly to ms Swiss Sapphire where you may drop off your luggage and use the lounge. Join us at 2:00 PM for a sightseeing tour of the city. Budapest is divided by the Danube River into two sections, Buda and Pest; you’ll learn about the turbulent history and see iconic sites such as Heroes’ Square and Fishermen’s Bastion. Board your luxury riverboat, one of the newest on Europe’s rivers, for your family’s weeklong, adventure-filled cruise. This evening you’ll meet fellow families at the Captain’s welcome reception that’s followed by a welcome dinner. Meals D

• 2. Scavenger hunt &amp; whitewater rafting in Bratislava 
After cruising the Danube along Hungary’s border with Slovakia this morning, arrive in Slovakia’s capital, Bratislava, a city with 1,700 years’ worth of stories to tell. It’s your chance to play detective on Tauck Bridges’ scavenger hunt; we don’t want to give too much away, but look up... and down... and sideways when following clues. You’ll also shoot the “rapids” on a controlled whitewater rafting course in one of the best artificial water channels in the world, used as a training ground for Olympians. Back onboard ms Swiss Sapphire, a Slovakian cultural presentation and a dinner featuring Slovakian specialties complete the day. Meals BLD

• 3. Imperial Vienna and Schönbrunn Palace
Vienna, Austria, is the setting for two days of exploration in one of the grandest cities of “Old Europe.” Vienna has a rich history as the legendary capital of the old Habsburg Empire; do a little city sightseeing today to view magnificent boulevards like the celebrated Ringstrasse, beautiful gardens and parks, and Vienna’s famed architecture. Ever dream about what it would be like to live in a palace? A visit to Schönbrunn Palace, which Austro-Hungarian Empress Maria Theresa built to “out-Versailles” France’s Palace of Versailles, is a start. Once upon a time, only the Imperial family was allowed to walk through the garden Maze. Today – you will; look for its hidden secrets... then visit the zoo, which is the world’s oldest. Tonight you’ll have another royal experience when you visit a traditional palace for an Imperial Evening. Welcome drinks are followed by a special dinner and some extraordinary Viennese entertainment. Meals BLD

• 4. The Vienna Prater and strüdel-making
Additional Vienna sightseeing this morning includes family fun at the Vienna Prater, one of the world’s most famous amusement parks! The Prater boasts more than 250 attractions including the 100+ year-old Giant Ferris Wheel (which film buffs of all ages will recognize as the famed ferris wheel in The Third Man), ghost trains and hi-tech modern roller coasters. Take a carriage ride through Old Town, then spend a free afternoon in Vienna – there are over 100 museums among Vienna’s cultural and historical attractions! Back onboard the riverboat, activities include a hands-on strüdel-making demonstration. Meals BLD

• 5. Dürnstein / Bike along the Danube to Krems
Wake up in Dürnstein, whose twisting cobblestone streets are lined with 16th-century houses. Take off on your next adventure – a leisurely bike ride* along the Danube to the country town of Krems, where you’ll spend a little time before biking back to Dürnstein. The Wachau Valley is renowned for its vineyards, and a wine tasting for the adults samples the grapes. If you wish, hike high above the town to the ruins of Kuenringerburg Castle where Richard the Lionhearted was once held for ransom. Spend the afternoon aboard ms Swiss Sapphire; every evening there are briefings before dinner, and tonight there is Austrian entertainment. Meals BLD

• 6. Salzburg and tricky Hellbrunn Castle
Dock in Linz for an excursion to Salzburg, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s alpine hometown. Just outside of town, you’ll take a private tour of an amazing place that has to be seen to be believed – Hellbrunn Castle, built centuries ago for the private amusement of the wealthy Prince Archbishop of Salzburg, who had an odd sense of humor. As you and your family stroll through this summer palace of fun, filled with trick fountains, grottoes, hundreds of statues, and water-driven 18th-century animatronics, you’ll find out firsthand how the Archbishop surprised and befuddled his guests! You can also visit the pavilion made famous as the setting for the song Sixteen Going on Seventeen from the movie The Sound of Music, located on the Hellbrunn Castle grounds. Spend some free time in Salzburg, perhaps joining your Tauck Director for a visit to Mirabell Gardens, before returning to the riverboat for dinner. Meals BLD

• 7. Marzipan-making and more in Passau
Arrive in Passau, Germany, for a walking tour through the tunnels, archways and cobblestone streets of this Bavarian town on the Danube and Inn rivers – including a stop at St. Stephen’s Cathedral for a performance of the largest pipe organ outside of the United States! A highlight of your visit to Passau is a marzipan demonstration at the famous Café Simon; after learning how this sweet confection is made from sugar and ground almonds, you’ll have a chance to “make a face” by rolling and shaping your own marzipan treat! Celebrate your marvelous adventures at tonight’s farewell dinner aboard ship en route to Regensburg. Meals BLD

8. Journey home
Tour ends: Regensburg, Germany. Fly home anytime after 2:00 PM. A transfer is included from Regensburg to Munich Airport; allow 2 1/2 hours for flight check-in. Meals B
]]>
  </itinerary>
  <itineraryDetails>
    <itineraryDay day="1">
  <title>Arrive Budapest / Begin your riverboat cruise along the Danube</title>
  <description>Tour begins: 2:00 PM, Budapest, Hungary.  A transfer is included from Budapest&apos;s Ferihegy Airport directly to ms Swiss Sapphire where you may drop off your luggage and use the lounge.  Join us at 2:00 PM for a sightseeing tour of the city.  Budapest is divided by the Danube River into two sections, Buda and Pest; you&apos;ll learn about the turbulent history and see iconic sites such as Heroes&apos; Square and Fishermen&apos;s Bastion.  Board your luxury riverboat, one of the newest on Europe&apos;s rivers, for your family&apos;s weeklong, adventure-filled cruise.  This evening you&apos;ll meet fellow families at the Captain&apos;s welcome reception that&apos;s followed by a welcome dinner.</description>
  <overnight>Aboard the Riverboat </overnight>
  <meals>Dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="2">
  <title>Scavenger hunt &amp; whitewater rafting in Bratislava </title>
  <description>After cruising the Danube along Hungary&apos;s border with Slovakia this morning, arrive in Slovakia&apos;s capital, Bratislava, a city with 1,700 years&apos; worth of stories to tell.  It&apos;s your chance to play detective on Tauck Bridges&apos; scavenger hunt; we don&apos;t want to give too much away, but look up...  and down...  and sideways when following clues.  You&apos;ll also shoot the “rapids” on a controlled whitewater rafting course in one of the best artificial water channels in the world, used as a training ground for Olympians.  Back onboard ms Swiss Sapphire, a Slovakian cultural presentation and a dinner featuring Slovakian specialties complete the day.</description>
  <overnight>Aboard the Riverboat </overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="3">
  <title>Imperial Vienna and Sch&amp;#246;nbrunn Palace</title>
  <description>Vienna, Austria, is the setting for two days of exploration in one of the grandest cities of “Old Europe.” Vienna has a rich history as the legendary capital of the old Habsburg Empire; do a little city sightseeing today to view magnificent boulevards like the celebrated Ringstrasse, beautiful gardens and parks, and Vienna&apos;s famed architecture.  Ever dream about what it would be like to live in a palace? A visit to Schönbrunn Palace, which Austro-Hungarian Empress Maria Theresa built to “out-Versailles” France&apos;s Palace of Versailles, is a start.  Once upon a time, only the Imperial family was allowed to walk through the garden Maze.  Today - you will; look for its hidden secrets...  then visit the zoo, which is the world&apos;s oldest.  Tonight you&apos;ll have another royal experience when you visit a traditional palace for an Imperial Evening.  Welcome drinks are followed by a special dinner and some extraordinary Viennese entertainment.</description>
  <overnight>Aboard the Riverboat </overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="4">
  <title>The Vienna Prater and str&amp;#252;del&amp;#45;making</title>
  <description>Additional Vienna sightseeing this morning includes family fun at the Vienna Prater, one of the world&apos;s most famous amusement parks! The Prater boasts more than 250 attractions including the 100+ year-old Giant Ferris Wheel (which film buffs of all ages will recognize as the famed ferris wheel in The Third Man), ghost trains and hi-tech modern roller coasters.  Take a carriage ride through Old Town, then spend a free afternoon in Vienna - there are over 100 museums among Vienna&apos;s cultural and historical attractions! Back onboard the riverboat, activities include a hands-on strüdel-making demonstration.</description>
  <overnight>Aboard the Riverboat </overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="5">
  <title>D&amp;#252;rnstein / Bike along the Danube to Krems</title>
  <description>Wake up in Dürnstein, whose twisting cobblestone streets are lined with 16th-century houses.  Take off on your next adventure - a leisurely bike ride* along the Danube to the country town of Krems, where you&apos;ll spend a little time before biking back to Dürnstein.  The Wachau Valley is renowned for its vineyards, and a wine tasting for the adults samples the grapes.  If you wish, hike high above the town to the ruins of Kuenringerburg Castle where Richard the Lionhearted was once held for ransom.  Spend the afternoon aboard ms Swiss Sapphire; every evening there are briefings before dinner, and tonight there is Austrian entertainment.</description>
  <overnight>Aboard the Riverboat </overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="6">
  <title>Salzburg and tricky Hellbrunn Castle</title>
  <description>Dock in Linz for an excursion to Salzburg, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart&apos;s alpine hometown.  Just outside of town, you&apos;ll take a private tour of an amazing place that has to be seen to be believed - Hellbrunn Castle, built centuries ago for the private amusement of the wealthy Prince Archbishop of Salzburg, who had an odd sense of humor.  As you and your family stroll through this summer palace of fun, filled with trick fountains, grottoes, hundreds of statues, and water-driven 18th-century animatronics, you&apos;ll find out firsthand how the Archbishop surprised and befuddled his guests! You can also visit the pavilion made famous as the setting for the song Sixteen Going on Seventeen from the movie The Sound of Music, located on the Hellbrunn Castle grounds.  Spend some free time in Salzburg, perhaps joining your Tauck Director for a visit to Mirabell Gardens, before returning to the riverboat for dinner.</description>
  <overnight>Aboard the Riverboat </overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="7">
  <title>Marzipan&amp;#45;making and more in Passau</title>
  <description>Arrive in Passau, Germany, for a walking tour through the tunnels, archways and cobblestone streets of this Bavarian town on the Danube and Inn rivers - including a stop at St.  Stephen&apos;s Cathedral for a performance of the largest pipe organ outside of the United States! A highlight of your visit to Passau is a marzipan demonstration at the famous Café Simon; after learning how this sweet confection is made from sugar and ground almonds, you&apos;ll have a chance to “make a face” by rolling and shaping your own marzipan treat! Celebrate your marvelous adventures at tonight&apos;s farewell dinner aboard ship en route to Regensburg.</description>
  <overnight>Aboard the Riverboat </overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="8">
  <title>Journey Home</title>
  <description>Tour ends: Regensburg, Germany. Fly home anytime after 2:00 PM. A transfer is included from Regensburg to Munich Airport; allow 2 1/2 hours for flight check-in.&amp;nbsp;</description>
  <overnight></overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast</meals>
</itineraryDay>
  </itineraryDetails>
  <highlights></highlights>
  <tauckValues>
    <value order="1">All private Tauck shore excursions  $625 Value  on Taucks 4-country, 7-night Danube River cruise</value><value order="2">An Imperial Evening featuring dinner and entertainment at a traditional palace in Vienna</value><value order="3">Bike ride on a scenic path along the Danube River and a private tour of the magical surprises at Hellbrunn Castle</value><value order="4">A scavenger hunt and a visit to a water sports center used for Olympic training in Bratislava</value><value order="5">Marzipan-making workshop in Passau and strdel-making lesson on the riverboat</value><value order="6">20 meals (7 breakfasts, 6 lunches, 7 dinners)</value><value order="7">All gratuities to Tauck Director, drivers, local guides and ship staff; applicable fuel surcharges, porterage, taxes, service charges and airport transfers</value>
  </tauckValues>  
  <departureDates>
    <date>
    <day>1</day>
    <month>7</month>
    <year>2010</year>
    <singlesPrice>3906</singlesPrice>
    <doublesPrice>2790</doublesPrice>
    <triplesPrice>3090</triplesPrice>
    <quadsPrice>2790</quadsPrice>
    <cabins>
<cabin>
  <categoryCode>YUW20101</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>1</occupancy>
  <description>Cat 1, Base Double *Emerald</description>
  <suppliment>0</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>3906</totalPrice>
</cabin>
<cabin>
  <categoryCode>YUW20101</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>2</occupancy>
  <description>Cat 1, Base Double *Emerald</description>
  <suppliment>0</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>2790</totalPrice>
</cabin>
<cabin>
  <categoryCode>YUW20102</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>1</occupancy>
  <description>Cat 1, 2 Adjacent Doubles *Emerald</description>
  <suppliment>0</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>3906</totalPrice>
</cabin>
<cabin>
  <categoryCode>YUW20102</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>2</occupancy>
  <description>Cat 1, 2 Adjacent Doubles *Emerald</description>
  <suppliment>0</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>2790</totalPrice>
</cabin>
<cabin>
  <categoryCode>YUW20102</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>3</occupancy>
  <description>Cat 1, 2 Adjacent Doubles *Emerald</description>
  <suppliment>0</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>3090</totalPrice>
</cabin>
<cabin>
  <categoryCode>YUW20102</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>4</occupancy>
  <description>Cat 1, 2 Adjacent Doubles *Emerald</description>
  <suppliment>0</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>2790</totalPrice>
</cabin>
<cabin>
  <categoryCode>YUW20103</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>1</occupancy>
  <description>Cat 2, Mini-Suite *Emerald</description>
  <suppliment>350</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>4256</totalPrice>
</cabin>
<cabin>
  <categoryCode>YUW20103</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>2</occupancy>
  <description>Cat 2, Mini-Suite *Emerald</description>
  <suppliment>250</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>3040</totalPrice>
</cabin>
<cabin>
  <categoryCode>YUW20104</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>1</occupancy>
  <description>Cat 3, Double *Ruby</description>
  <suppliment>1190</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>5096</totalPrice>
</cabin>
<cabin>
  <categoryCode>YUW20104</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>2</occupancy>
  <description>Cat 3, Double *Ruby</description>
  <suppliment>850</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>3640</totalPrice>
</cabin>
<cabin>
  <categoryCode>YUW20105</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>1</occupancy>
  <description>Cat 3, 2 Adjacent Doubles *Ruby</description>
  <suppliment>1190</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>5096</totalPrice>
</cabin>
<cabin>
  <categoryCode>YUW20105</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>2</occupancy>
  <description>Cat 3, 2 Adjacent Doubles *Ruby</description>
  <suppliment>850</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>3640</totalPrice>
</cabin>
<cabin>
  <categoryCode>YUW20105</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>3</occupancy>
  <description>Cat 3, 2 Adjacent Doubles *Ruby</description>
  <suppliment>900</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>3990</totalPrice>
</cabin>
<cabin>
  <categoryCode>YUW20105</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>4</occupancy>
  <description>Cat 3, 2 Adjacent Doubles *Ruby</description>
  <suppliment>850</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>3640</totalPrice>
</cabin>
<cabin>
  <categoryCode>YUW20106</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>1</occupancy>
  <description>Cat 4, Mini-Suite *Ruby</description>
  <suppliment>1610</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>5516</totalPrice>
</cabin>
<cabin>
  <categoryCode>YUW20106</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>2</occupancy>
  <description>Cat 4, Mini-Suite *Ruby</description>
  <suppliment>1150</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>3940</totalPrice>
</cabin>
<cabin>
  <categoryCode>YUW20107</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>1</occupancy>
  <description>Cat 5, Mini-Suite *Diamond</description>
  <suppliment>2450</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>6356</totalPrice>
</cabin>
<cabin>
  <categoryCode>YUW20107</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>2</occupancy>
  <description>Cat 5, Mini-Suite *Diamond</description>
  <suppliment>1750</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>4540</totalPrice>
</cabin>
<cabin>
  <categoryCode>YUW20108</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>1</occupancy>
  <description>Cat 6, Suite *Diamond</description>
  <suppliment>3430</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>7336</totalPrice>
</cabin>
<cabin>
  <categoryCode>YUW20108</categoryCode>
  <occupancy>2</occupancy>
  <description>Cat 6, Suite *Diamond</description>
  <suppliment>2450</suppliment>
  <totalPrice>5240</totalPrice>
</cabin></cabins>
  </date>

</departureDates>

</tour><tour>
  <sourceId>YW2010</sourceId>
  <title>Patriots of America</title>
  <summary>
    <![CDATA[		Family FYI: Did you know that on the Liberty Bell, the name of Pennsylvania is missing one &quot;n&quot;?&quot; Take a fun and fascinating journey of discovery along America&apos;s road from past to present with your family on Tauck Bridges&apos; Philadelphia to Washington DC tour.
]]>
  </summary>
  <description>
    <![CDATA[		Tauck Bridges&apos; Philadelphia to Washington DC tour is an inspiring family journey along America’s road to freedom! Stand where American patriots once stood in Independence Hall... watch an F/X theatre experience on the Amish people and visit an Amish homestead... walk the battlefields where the tide of the Civil War turned at Gettysburg... learn about the proud history of the &quot;Leathernecks&quot;... step back in time at Colonial Williamsburg and Mount Vernon... see secrets of master spies revealed and much more on this special journey through America&apos;s past!
]]>
  </description>
  <link>http://family-travel.tauck.com/tours/usa-tours/southern-usa-travel/washington-dc-tours-yw-2010</link>
  <durationDays>8</durationDays>
  <durationDetails>8 days and 7 nights.</durationDetails>
  <tripType>ESCORTED_TOUR</tripType>
  <brand>Bridges</brand>
  <subbrand>Bridges</subbrand>
  <gradeRating>ALL_AGES</gradeRating>
  <comfortRating>COMFORTABLE_MIXED</comfortRating>
  <startingLocation>Philadelphia, PA</startingLocation>
  <prices>
    <price currency="USD">2281</price>
    <priceDetails><![CDATA[All prices are per person in U.S. dollars. ]]></priceDetails>
  </prices>
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  <itinerary>
    <![CDATA[See American history come alive on a fascinating journey that takes you down America’s “road to independence,” from the 1700s to present day. Visit famous national landmarks with local guides, step back in time in Lancaster County where the Amish live without modern conveniences, and experience life on the eve of the American Revolution in Colonial Williamsburg where you will meet everyday citizens and patriots.

Visit Independence Hall in Philadelphia. Go inside George Washington’s beloved home on the Potomac River. Have dinner in an authentic colonial tavern in 18th-century Virginia. Hear legends about Colonial Williamsburg under the night skies. Learn the secrets of master spies at the International Spy Museum. Tour Washington, DC with an expert guide for an insider’s view of the nation’s capital.

Day 1 – Arrive Philadelphia
Tour begins: 5:00 PM at the Four Seasons Hotel Philadelphia. Welcome to Philadelphia, your first stop on America’s historic “road to independence.” A transfer is included from Philadelphia International Airport to the Four Seasons Hotel Philadelphia, set in a perfect location in the heart of the city on Logan Square. Join us for a welcome reception and dinner this evening. Meals D

Day 2 – Step back in time on a tour of city sights
Explore the “City of Brotherly Love” on a guided sightseeing tour that begins at Independence National Historic Park. You’ll learn a lot about Benjamin Franklin’s Philadelphia on a walk through Independence Hall, the place where delegates from the original 13 colonies adopted the Declaration of Independence and where the U.S. Constitution was adopted. See the 2,000-pound Liberty Bell, in its new home at Liberty Bell Center, and take a ride aboard a horse-drawn carriage to the 250-year-old Betsy Ross House. You’ll also visit the National Constitution Center and see Freedom Rising, a multimedia production that tells the story of the U.S. Constitution. Spend the remainder of the day exploring this historic city as you please. Meals B

Day 3 – Amish Country and Civil War Gettysburg 
Lancaster County, the heart of Pennsylvania Dutch Country, is home to Amish farms powered by horse and plow, without modern-day conveniences. Follow the extraordinary story of an Amish family throughout the ages at the state-of-the-art Amish Experience F/X Theater, then visit an Amish homestead and have a family-style Amish luncheon. Travel through Pennsylvania farmland to Gettysburg for a memorable visit to Gettysburg National Military Park. Experience poignant reminders of the Civil War as you tour the park with a guide who shares insights about some of the most important conflicts – the Civil War comes to life when you see where 70,000 men of the Confederate Army faced 93,000 Union soldiers for three days in July of 1863. This 20,000-acre battlefield was the site of President Abraham Lincoln’s immortal Gettysburg Address. Meals BLD

Day 4 – Learn about the U.S. Marines &amp; dine colonially
Cross the infamous Mason-Dixon Line, the historic divider between north and south, as your journey through American history continues. Follow in the footsteps of the U.S. Marines at the National Museum of the Marine Corps in Triangle, Virginia; interactive exhibits chronicle the history and accomplishments of these brave American patriots. Your destination for the next two nights is Colonial Williamsburg, where 18th-century America comes alive right before your eyes. Sample an authentic taste of typical 18th-century fare at a colonial tavern tonight. Meals BD

Day 5 – A day in the life of Colonial Williamsburg
Experience life on the eve of the American Revolution in Colonial Williamsburg; go inside colonial houses and shops, and meet families as they go about their daily chores without electricity, hot running water, telephones, computers or television! Your entire day is spent as you please in this living reminder of 18th-century America. Meals B

Day 6 – George Washington’s house at Mount Vernon
Travel to historic Mount Vernon today for a guided tour of George Washington’s beloved plantation overlooking the Potomac River; explore his house and learn what life was like for the “Father of Our Country.” You won’t believe the view that George and Martha had from their back porch! Arrive in the nation’s capital this afternoon. First stop is the International Spy Museum to learn about the role spies have played in world events throughout history, along with our pop-culture fascination. This museum features the largest collection of international spy-related artifacts ever put on public display. Meals BLD

Day 7 – The national monuments of Washington, DC
See famous national landmarks today on a guided tour that shows you the Iwo Jima Memorial, the Lincoln Memorial, and the United States Capitol Building, ending with a visit to the Smithsonian National Museum of American History where a portion of Night at the Museum 2 was filmed. See the original Star Spangled Banner and President Lincoln’s trademark top hat; Dorothy’s slippers from The Wizard of Oz; Teddy Roosevelt’s chaps; George Armstrong Custer’s jacket; and Julia Child’s kitchen! The remainder of the day is free to explore other sites in the capital. Join us for a farewell reception and dinner tonight. Meals BD

Day 8 – Journey home
Tour ends: Washington, DC. Fly home anytime. A transfer is included from Grand Hyatt Washington to Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport or Washington Dulles International Airport. Allow a minimum of two hours for flight check-in. Meals B

]]>
  </itinerary>
  <itineraryDetails>
    <itineraryDay day="1">
  <title>Arrive Philadelphia</title>
  <description>Tour begins: 5:00 PM at the Four Seasons Hotel Philadelphia. Welcome to Philadelphia, your first stop on America’s historic “road to independence.” A transfer is included from Philadelphia International Airport to the Four Seasons Hotel Philadelphia, set in a perfect location in the heart of the city on Logan Square. Join us for a welcome reception and dinner this evening.</description>
  <overnight>Four Seasons Hotel Philadelphia, Pennsylvania</overnight>
  <meals>Dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="2">
  <title>Step back in time on a tour of city sights</title>
  <description>Explore the “City of Brotherly Love” on a guided sightseeing tour that begins at Independence National Historic Park. You’ll learn a lot about Benjamin Franklin’s Philadelphia on a walk through Independence Hall, the place where delegates from the original 13 colonies adopted the Declaration of Independence and where the U.S. Constitution was adopted. See the 2,000-pound Liberty Bell, in its new home at Liberty Bell Center, and take a ride aboard a horse-drawn carriage to the 250-year-old Betsy Ross House. You’ll also visit the National Constitution Center and see Freedom Rising, a multimedia production that tells the story of the U.S. Constitution. Spend the remainder of the day exploring this historic city as you please.</description>
  <overnight>Four Seasons Hotel Philadelphia, Pennsylvania</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="3">
  <title>Amish Country and Civil War Gettysburg</title>
  <description>Lancaster County, the heart of Pennsylvania Dutch Country, is home to Amish farms powered by horse and plow, without modern-day conveniences. Follow the extraordinary story of an Amish family throughout the ages at the state-of-the-art Amish Experience F/X Theater, then visit an Amish homestead and have a family-style Amish luncheon. Travel through Pennsylvania farmland to Gettysburg for a memorable visit to Gettysburg National Military Park. Experience poignant reminders of the Civil War as you tour the park with a guide who shares insights about some of the most important conflicts – the Civil War comes to life when you see where 70,000 men of the Confederate Army faced 93,000 Union soldiers for three days in July of 1863. This 20,000-acre battlefield was the site of President Abraham Lincoln’s immortal Gettysburg Address.</description>
  <overnight>Wyndham Gettysburg, Pennsylvania</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="4">
  <title>Learn about the U.S. Marines &amp; dine colonially</title>
  <description>Cross the infamous Mason-Dixon Line, the historic divider between north and south, as your journey through American history continues. Follow in the footsteps of the U.S. Marines at the National Museum of the Marine Corps in Triangle, Virginia; interactive exhibits chronicle the history and accomplishments of these brave American patriots. Your destination for the next two nights is Colonial Williamsburg, where 18th-century America comes alive right before your eyes. Sample an authentic taste of typical 18th-century fare at a colonial tavern tonight.</description>
  <overnight>Williamsburg Lodge, Williamsburg, Virginia</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="5">
  <title>A day in the life of Colonial Williamsburg</title>
  <description>Experience life on the eve of the American Revolution in Colonial Williamsburg; go inside colonial houses and shops, and meet families as they go about their daily chores without electricity, hot running water, telephones, computers or television! Your entire day is spent as you please in this living reminder of 18th-century America.</description>
  <overnight>Williamsburg Lodge, Williamsburg, Virginia</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="6">
  <title>George Washington&apos;s house at Mount Vernon</title>
  <description>Travel to historic Mount Vernon today for a guided tour of George Washington’s beloved plantation overlooking the Potomac River; explore his house and learn what life was like for the “Father of Our Country.” You won’t believe the view that George and Martha had from their back porch! Arrive in the nation’s capital this afternoon. First stop is the International Spy Museum to learn about the role spies have played in world events throughout history, along with our pop-culture fascination. This museum features the largest collection of international spy-related artifacts ever put on public display.</description>
  <overnight>Grand Hyatt Washington, DC</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="7">
  <title>The national monuments of Washington, DC</title>
  <description>See famous national landmarks today on a guided tour that shows you the Iwo Jima Memorial, the Lincoln Memorial, and the United States Capitol Building, ending with a visit to the Smithsonian National Museum of American History where a portion of Night at the Museum 2 was filmed. See the original Star Spangled Banner and President Lincoln’s trademark top hat; Dorothy’s slippers from The Wizard of Oz; Teddy Roosevelt’s chaps; George Armstrong Custer’s jacket; and Julia Child’s kitchen! The remainder of the day is free to explore other sites in the capital. Join us for a farewell reception and dinner tonight.</description>
  <overnight>Grand Hyatt Washington, DC</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="8">
  <title>Journey Home</title>
  <description>Tour ends: Washington, DC. Fly home anytime. A transfer is included from Grand Hyatt Washington to Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport or Washington Dulles International Airport. Allow a minimum of two hours for flight check-in. </description>
  <overnight></overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast</meals>
</itineraryDay>
  </itineraryDetails>
  <highlights>
		
				
						Philadelphia ~ Lancaster County ~ Gettysburg ~ Marine Corps Museum ~ Colonial Williamsburg ~ Mount Vernon

				
				
						Washington, DC ~ Int’l Spy Museum ~ Smithsonian Museum 
		
</highlights>
  <tauckValues>
    <value order="1">Learning about a different culture, the Amish, on a visit to Pennsylvania Dutch country</value><value order="2">Guided tour of Gettysburg National Military Park</value><value order="3">Meeting colonial citizens of 18th-century Williamsburg</value><value order="4">Visits to Independence Hall, the Liberty Bell, and the National Constitution Center, plus a carriage ride to the Betsy Ross House</value><value order="5">The ultimate Washington, DC, adventures at the Smithsonian National Museum of American History and the International Spy Museum</value><value order="6">A visit to Mount Vernon</value><value order="7">14 meals (7 breakfasts, 2 lunches, 5 dinners)</value><value order="8">All gratuities to Tauck Director, local guides &amp; drivers; service charges, taxes, porterage and airport transfers</value>
  </tauckValues>  
  <departureDates>
    <date>
    <day>5</day>
    <month>6</month>
    <year>2010</year>
    <singlesPrice>2997</singlesPrice>
    <doublesPrice>2470</doublesPrice>
    <triplesPrice>2298</triplesPrice>
    <quadsPrice>2281</quadsPrice>
    
  </date>
  <date>
    <day>12</day>
    <month>6</month>
    <year>2010</year>
    <singlesPrice>2997</singlesPrice>
    <doublesPrice>2470</doublesPrice>
    <triplesPrice>2298</triplesPrice>
    <quadsPrice>2281</quadsPrice>
    
  </date>
  <date>
    <day>3</day>
    <month>7</month>
    <year>2010</year>
    <singlesPrice>2997</singlesPrice>
    <doublesPrice>2470</doublesPrice>
    <triplesPrice>2298</triplesPrice>
    <quadsPrice>2281</quadsPrice>
    
  </date>
  <date>
    <day>24</day>
    <month>7</month>
    <year>2010</year>
    <singlesPrice>2997</singlesPrice>
    <doublesPrice>2470</doublesPrice>
    <triplesPrice>2298</triplesPrice>
    <quadsPrice>2281</quadsPrice>
    
  </date>
  <date>
    <day>31</day>
    <month>7</month>
    <year>2010</year>
    <singlesPrice>2997</singlesPrice>
    <doublesPrice>2470</doublesPrice>
    <triplesPrice>2298</triplesPrice>
    <quadsPrice>2281</quadsPrice>
    
  </date>
  <date>
    <day>14</day>
    <month>8</month>
    <year>2010</year>
    <singlesPrice>2997</singlesPrice>
    <doublesPrice>2470</doublesPrice>
    <triplesPrice>2298</triplesPrice>
    <quadsPrice>2281</quadsPrice>
    
  </date>

</departureDates>

</tour><tour>
  <sourceId>YYN2010</sourceId>
  <title>Cowboy Country</title>
  <summary>
    <![CDATA[		Family FYI: Did you know that dinosaur footprints 165 million years old (Jurassic Period) were found near Shell Falls in 1997? Discover the best of Wyoming travel and the old west during your family&apos;s Grand Teton National Park and Yellowstone vacation.
]]>
  </summary>
  <description>
    <![CDATA[Put on your cowboy boots and hats and get ready to experience two
spectacular national parks of the great American West, and learn about
the lives of cowboys then and now during this Grand Teton and
Yellowstone vacation. Raft down a river looking for wildlife that lives
in the parks. Attend an authentic Wild West rodeo and take a trail
ride, accompanied by real cowboys. See the huge stone faces of four
great American presidents at Mount Rushmore and view the progress at
the gigantic memorial honoring Crazy Horse. With two-nights stays at
lodges right inside two national parks and an overnight at a working
western ranch, there is something amazing around every bend during your
family&apos;s South Dakota and Wyoming travel adventure.
]]>
  </description>
  <link>http://family-travel.tauck.com/tours/usa-tours/western-usa-travel/wyoming-vacation-yyn-2010</link>
  <durationDays>8</durationDays>
  <durationDetails>8 days and 7 nights.</durationDetails>
  <tripType>ESCORTED_TOUR</tripType>
  <brand>Bridges</brand>
  <subbrand>Bridges</subbrand>
  <gradeRating>ALL_AGES</gradeRating>
  <comfortRating>COMFORTABLE_MIXED</comfortRating>
  <startingLocation>Jackson, Wyoming</startingLocation>
  <prices>
    <price currency="USD">2497</price>
    <priceDetails><![CDATA[All prices are per person in U.S. dollars. ]]></priceDetails>
  </prices>
  <images>
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  <itinerary>
    <![CDATA[Don your cowboy hats, pull up your boots and get set for our best-selling family adventure in the classic American West. From the magnificent Grand Teton and Yellowstone national parks, to a rodeo in Wyoming and the larger-than-life monuments in the Black Hills of South Dakota, the “stuff of legends” awaits.

Raft down the Snake River, during a two-night stay at Jackson Lake Lodge. Stay “inside” Grand Teton National Park, in one of the most sought-after accommodations in the Great American West. Go “behind the scenes” with a park expert, learning the secrets of Yellowstone National Park. See a rodeo in Cody, Wyoming, a famous “wild west” cowboy town founded by Buffalo Bill Cody in 1896. 

Day 1 – Arrive Jackson, Wyoming
Tour departs: 3:00 PM from Jackson Hole Airport. A transfer is included from the Jackson Hole Airport to Jackson Lake Lodge for a two-night stay in the heart of Grand Teton National Park; your heart will be captured by your first sight of the magnificent snow-capped peaks of the Grand Tetons jutting skyward. Join us for a welcome reception and dinner tonight at Jackson Lake Lodge, an eco-friendly resort, where you’ll learn about your upcoming adventures! Meals D

Day 2 – Raft down the Snake River 
You will have the unique opportunity on Cowboy Country to volunteer with park experts on a service project, made possible by Tauck’s long-standing relationship with America’s national parks. Tauck received a special Presidential Award for this on-tour volunteer program in the summer of 2006. Explore postcard-perfect sights in the park, including sparkling Jenny Lake, and get set for a rafting adventure* on the scenic Snake River; your guide introduces you to this wildlife-rich ecosystem, helping you spot the animals that make their homes here, including beaver, eagles, elk and even moose. Spend time in historic Jackson and enjoy dinner on your own. Meals BL

Day 3 – Stay inside Yellowstone National Park
Journey to Yellowstone National Park today where your inside-the-park accommodations are just steps away from Old Faithful Geyser – which shoots its plume of steam skyward just about every hour! Join your Tauck Director for sightseeing that features some of the most famous geologic wonders of Yellowstone. Meals BD

Day 4 – Explore America’s oldest national park 
You’ll start your day with local experts who shed some light on the park’s abundant wildlife. Yellowstone National Park protects five threatened or endangered species, including the gray wolf, the whooping crane, the lynx, the bald eagle and the grizzly bear. This afternoon, go exploring with an expert who offers special insights about the “restless” geology of the park, from its legendary trout streams and thundering waterfalls to its gurgling mud pots and volcanic calderas. With 10,000 hot springs, two-thirds of all geysers in the world, and lush forests, Yellowstone National Park inspires awe at every turn – and it is a photographer’s paradise. Meals BLD

Day 5 – Visit Cody, “Rodeo Capital of the World” 
Step back in time to the days of the Old West in historic Cody, founded by frontiersman Buffalo Bill Cody in 1896, the best-known spokesman for the New West. Learn more about his quest to lure settlers to the western frontier at the Buffalo Bill Historical Center, home to the world’s largest collection of artifacts depicting the culture, history and art of the American West. Admission to his famous Wild West Show in the late 1800s was 10 cents for children and 25 cents for adults! Stunts will be performed at the rodeo tonight by steer wrestlers, buckin’ broncos, barrel riders and rodeo clowns – they put on a memorable show! Meals BD

Day 6 – Spend a night at a western ranch
Today’s drive through Wyoming’s Bighorn Mountains includes some pretty amazing sights – watch for cowboys at work in the high altitude grasslands, a spectacular waterfall, all kinds of wildflowers, and deep canyons that make you see how this area was a real part of the “wild west.” Your destination today is The Ranch at Ucross, where you can get a taste of cowboy life during an overnight stay. The ranch offers many activities for family fun – take a leisurely horseback ride*; catch a big Brown or Rainbow in Piney Creek or the ranch’s stocked trout pond; relax by the heated pool; pitch horseshoes; or hunt for frogs by the pond. A campfire in the evening caps a perfect day. Meals BLD

Day 7 – See Crazy Horse and Mt. Rushmore
You’ll see some of the world’s largest sculptures today, nestled in the Black Hills of South Dakota. View the work-in-progress at Crazy Horse Memorial, which is one of the world’s largest mountain carvings, before a special visit to Mt. Rushmore National Monument. Nothing compares to seeing in person the four famous presidential faces carved into rock – George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln and Theodore Roosevelt. You’ll learn all about how 400 workers spent 14 years creating the dream of sculptor Gutzon Borglum. The journey comes to an end this evening with a farewell dinner. Meals BLD

Day 8 – Journey Home
Tour ends: Rapid City. Fly home anytime; a transfer is included from the K Bar S Lodge to Rapid City Regional Airport. Allow a minimum of two hours for flight check-in. Meals B
]]>
  </itinerary>
  <itineraryDetails>
    <itineraryDay day="1">
  <title>Arrive Jackson, Wyoming</title>
  <description>Tour departs: 3:00 PM from Jackson Hole Airport. A transfer is included from the Jackson Hole Airport to Jackson Lake Lodge for a two-night stay in the heart of Grand Teton National Park; your heart will be captured by your first sight of the magnificent snow-capped peaks of the Grand Tetons jutting skyward. Join us for a welcome reception and dinner tonight at Jackson Lake Lodge, an eco-friendly resort, where you’ll learn about your upcoming adventures!</description>
  <overnight>Jackson Lake Lodge, Grand Teton National Park, WY</overnight>
  <meals>Dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="2">
  <title>Raft down the Snake River</title>
  <description>You will have the unique opportunity on Cowboy Country to volunteer with park experts on a service project, made possible by Tauck’s long-standing relationship with America’s national parks. Tauck received a special Presidential Award for this on-tour volunteer program in the summer of 2006. Explore postcard-perfect sights in the park, including sparkling Jenny Lake, and get set for a rafting adventure* on the scenic Snake River; your guide introduces you to this wildlife-rich ecosystem, helping you spot the animals that make their homes here, including beaver, eagles, elk and even moose. Spend time in historic Jackson and enjoy dinner on your own.</description>
  <overnight>Jackson Lake Lodge, Grand Teton National Park, WY</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="3">
  <title>Stay inside Yellowstone National Park</title>
  <description>Journey to Yellowstone National Park today where your inside-the-park accommodations are just steps away from Old Faithful Geyser – which shoots its plume of steam skyward just about every hour! Join your Tauck Director for sightseeing that features some of the most famous geologic wonders of Yellowstone.</description>
  <overnight>Old Faithful Inn or Old Faithful Snow Lodge, Yellowstone National Park, WY</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="4">
  <title>Explore America&apos;s oldest national park</title>
  <description>You’ll start your day with local experts who shed some light on the park’s abundant wildlife. Yellowstone National Park protects five threatened or endangered species, including the gray wolf, the whooping crane, the lynx, the bald eagle and the grizzly bear. This afternoon, go exploring with an expert who offers special insights about the “restless” geology of the park, from its legendary trout streams and thundering waterfalls to its gurgling mud pots and volcanic calderas. With 10,000 hot springs, two-thirds of all geysers in the world, and lush forests, Yellowstone National Park inspires awe at every turn – and it is a photographer’s paradise.</description>
  <overnight>Old Faithful Inn or Old Faithful Snow Lodge, Yellowstone National Park, WY</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner </meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="5">
  <title>Visit Cody, &quot;Rodeo Capital of the World&quot;</title>
  <description>Step back in time to the days of the Old West in historic Cody, founded by frontiersman Buffalo Bill Cody in 1896, the best-known spokesman for the New West. Learn more about his quest to lure settlers to the western frontier at the Buffalo Bill Historical Center, home to the world’s largest collection of artifacts depicting the culture, history and art of the American West. Admission to his famous Wild West Show in the late 1800s was 10 cents for children and 25 cents for adults! Stunts will be performed at the rodeo tonight by steer wrestlers, buckin’ broncos, barrel riders and rodeo clowns – they put on a memorable show!</description>
  <overnight>Holiday Inn Cody at Buffalo Bill Village, Cody, WY</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="6">
  <title>Spend a night at a western ranch</title>
  <description>Today’s drive through Wyoming’s Bighorn Mountains includes some pretty amazing sights – watch for cowboys at work in the high altitude grasslands, a spectacular waterfall, all kinds of wildflowers, and deep canyons that make you see how this area was a real part of the “wild west.” Your destination today is The Ranch at Ucross, where you can get a taste of cowboy life during an overnight stay. The ranch offers many activities for family fun – take a leisurely horseback ride*; catch a big Brown or Rainbow in Piney Creek or the ranch’s stocked trout pond; relax by the heated pool; pitch horseshoes; or hunt for frogs by the pond. A campfire in the evening caps a perfect day.</description>
  <overnight>The Ranch at Ucross, WY</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="7">
  <title>See Crazy Horse and Mt. Rushmore</title>
  <description>You’ll see some of the world’s largest sculptures today, nestled in the Black Hills of South Dakota. View the work-in-progress at Crazy Horse Memorial, which is one of the world’s largest mountain carvings, before a special visit to Mt. Rushmore National Monument. Nothing compares to seeing in person the four famous presidential faces carved into rock – George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln and Theodore Roosevelt. You’ll learn all about how 400 workers spent 14 years creating the dream of sculptor Gutzon Borglum. The journey comes to an end this evening with a farewell dinner.</description>
  <overnight>K Bar S Lodge, Keystone, SD</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="8">
  <title>Journey Home</title>
  <description>Tour ends: Rapid City. Fly home anytime; a transfer is included from the K Bar S Lodge to Rapid City Regional Airport. Allow a minimum of two hours for flight check-in.</description>
  <overnight></overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast</meals>
</itineraryDay>
  </itineraryDetails>
  <highlights>
		
				
						Grand Teton Nat’l Park ~ Snake River Rafting ~ Yellowstone Nat’l Park ~ Old Faithful Geyser ~ Historic Cody 

				
				
						Bighorn Mountains ~ Ranch at Ucross ~ Crazy Horse Memorial ~ Mt. Rushmore 
				
		
</highlights>
  <tauckValues>
    <value order="1">A taste of cowboy life at a Wyoming ranch  horseback riding, fishing or hunting frogs at the trout pond, evening campfire &amp; more</value><value order="2">Rootin tootin fun at the world-famous rodeo in Cody</value><value order="3">Lots of chances to watch Old Faithful on a two-night stay at a lodge right in the heart of Yellowstone  and a behind-the-scenes park tour with a local expert</value><value order="4">River rafting on the Snake River with a guide who helps spot eagles, beaver, elk and maybe even a moose</value><value order="5">Participation in Taucks Presidential Award-winning national park volunteer program</value><value order="6">17 meals (7 breakfasts, 4 lunches, 6 dinners)</value><value order="7">All gratuities to Tauck Director, local guides &amp; drivers; service charges, taxes, porterage and airport transfers</value>
  </tauckValues>  
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    <day>12</day>
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  <date>
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    <doublesPrice>2750</doublesPrice>
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    <quadsPrice>2497</quadsPrice>
    
  </date>
  <date>
    <day>23</day>
    <month>8</month>
    <year>2010</year>
    <singlesPrice>3433</singlesPrice>
    <doublesPrice>2750</doublesPrice>
    <triplesPrice>2526</triplesPrice>
    <quadsPrice>2497</quadsPrice>
    
  </date>

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</tour><tour>
  <sourceId>YYS2010</sourceId>
  <title>Cowboy Country</title>
  <summary>
    <![CDATA[		Family FYI: Did you know that dinosaur footprints 165 million years old (Jurassic Period) were found near Shell Falls in 1997? Discover the best of Wyoming travel and the old west during your family&apos;s Grand Teton National Park and Yellowstone vacation.
]]>
  </summary>
  <description>
    <![CDATA[Put on your cowboy boots and hats and get ready to experience two spectacular U.S. national parks, and learn about the lives of cowboys then and now during this memorable Wyoming travel experience in the great American West. Raft down a river looking for wildlife that lives in the parks. Attend an authentic Wild West rodeo and take a trail ride, accompanied by real cowboys. See the huge stone faces of four great American presidents at Mount Rushmore and view the progress at the gigantic memorial honoring Crazy Horse. With two-nights stays at lodges right inside two national parks and an overnight at a working western ranch, there is something amazing around every bend during your family&apos;s South Dakota and Wyoming travel adventure.
]]>
  </description>
  <link>http://family-travel.tauck.com/tours/usa-tours/western-usa-travel/wyoming-travel-yys-2010</link>
  <durationDays>8</durationDays>
  <durationDetails>8 days and 7 nights.</durationDetails>
  <tripType>ESCORTED_TOUR</tripType>
  <brand>Bridges</brand>
  <subbrand>Bridges</subbrand>
  <gradeRating>ALL_AGES</gradeRating>
  <comfortRating>COMFORTABLE_MIXED</comfortRating>
  <startingLocation>Rapid City, South Dakota</startingLocation>
  <prices>
    <price currency="USD">2497</price>
    <priceDetails><![CDATA[All prices are per person in U.S. dollars. ]]></priceDetails>
  </prices>
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  <itinerary>
    <![CDATA[Don your cowboy hats, pull up your boots and get set for our best-selling family adventure in the classic American West. From the magnificent Grand Teton and Yellowstone national parks, to a rodeo in Wyoming and the larger-than-life monuments in the Black Hills of South Dakota, the “stuff of legends” awaits. Raft down the Snake River, during a two-night stay at Jackson Lake Lodge. Stay “inside” Grand Teton National Park, in one of the most sought-after accommodations in the Great American West. Go “behind the scenes” with a park expert, learning the secrets of Yellowstone National Park. See a rodeo in Cody, Wyoming, a famous “wild west” cowboy town founded by Buffalo Bill Cody in 1896. 

Day 1 – Arrive Rapid City, South Dakota
Tour begins: 6:30 PM, K Bar S Lodge. A transfer is included from Rapid City Regional Airport to K Bar S Lodge in Keystone, situated in South Dakota’s beautiful Black Hills. Learn about your upcoming adventures at our welcome reception and dinner tonight. Meals D

Day 2 – Mount Rushmore and a night at a western ranch
You’ll see two of the world’s largest sculptures today, nestled in the Black Hills. Nothing quite compares with your visit to Mt. Rushmore National Monument, where you’ll see in person four famous presidential faces carved into rock – George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln and Theodore Roosevelt – and learn how 400 workers spent 14 years creating the dream of sculptor Gutzon Borglum. View the work-in-progress at Crazy Horse Memorial, one of the world’s largest mountain carvings, and continue on your journey through stunning canyons into Wyoming’s Bighorn Mountains for an overnight and a real western ranch experience at The Ranch at Ucross. The ranch offers lots of activities for family fun – take a horseback ride*; catch a big Brown or Rainbow in Piney Creek or in the ranch’s stocked trout pond; relax by the heated pool; pitch horseshoes; or hunt for frogs by the pond. A campfire in the evening caps a perfect day! Meals BD

Day 3 – Visit Cody, “Rodeo Capital of the World”
Today’s drive through Wyoming’s Bighorn Mountains includes some pretty amazing sights – watch for cowboys at work in the high altitude grasslands, a spectacular waterfall, all kinds of wildflowers, and deep canyons that make you see how this area was a real part of the “wild west.” Step back to the days of the Old West in historic Cody, founded by frontiersman Buffalo Bill Cody in 1896. Learn more about his quest to lure settlers to the western frontier at the Buffalo Bill Historical Center, home to the world’s largest collection of artifacts depicting the culture, history and art of the American West. Stunts will be performed at the rodeo tonight by steer wrestlers, buckin’ broncos, barrel riders and rodeo clowns – they put on a memorable show! Meals BLD

Day 4 – Stay in the heart of Yellowstone National Park 
Spend the morning exploring Cody on your own before departing for Yellowstone National Park for a two-night stay. Your inside-the-park accommodations are just steps away from Old Faithful Geyser – which shoots its plume of steam skyward just about every hour! If you wish, take a geyser walk with a park ranger, or check out other ranger programs; have dinner at your leisure tonight, enjoying the natural treasures of Yellowstone after the day’s crowds depart. Meals BD

Day 5 – Explore America’s oldest national park 
Go exploring with a local expert who offers special insights on Yellowstone’s “restless” geology as you see some of its most famous geologic wonders; the park boasts 10,000 hot springs and two-thirds of all the geysers in the world! Enjoy a picnic lunch; join experts who shed light on the wildlife of Yellowstone, the protected home of endangered species including gray wolves, lynx, whooping cranes, bald eagles and grizzly bears. Meals BLD

Day 6 – Spend two nights in Grand Teton National Park
Depart Yellowstone for Jackson, Wyoming, and Grand Teton National Park. As you approach the park, your heart will be captured by your first sight of the magnificent Grand Tetons jutting skyward. Explore the historic town of Jackson as you please; be sure to check out the giant arch made out of elk antlers! You’ll spend the next two nights inside the heart of the park at the incredible Jackson Lake Lodge, one of the most sought-after hotels in the great American West. Meals B

Day 7 – Raft down the Snake River... and volunteer
Explore postcard-perfect sights in Grand Teton National Park, including sparkling Jenny Lake, and get set for a rafting adventure* on the scenic Snake River; your guide will introduce you to the flora and fauna of this wildlife-rich ecosystem, helping you spot the animals that make their homes here – beaver, eagles, elk and even moose. You’ll have the unique opportunity on Cowboy Country to volunteer with park experts on a service project, made possible by Tauck’s long-standing relationship with America’s national parks – an experience that you and your family will long remember. Tauck received a special Presidential Award for this on-tour volunteer program in 2006. Mark the end of a wonderful journey with a farewell reception and dinner tonight. Meals BLD

Day 8 – Journey home
Tour ends: Jackson. Fly home anytime; a transfer from Jackson Lake Lodge to Jackson Hole Airport is included. You should allow a minimum of two hours for flight check-in. Meals B
]]>
  </itinerary>
  <itineraryDetails>
    <itineraryDay day="1">
  <title>Arrive Rapid City, South Dakota</title>
  <description>Tour begins: 6:30 PM, K Bar S Lodge. A transfer is included from Rapid City Regional Airport to K Bar S Lodge in Keystone, situated in South Dakota’s beautiful Black Hills. Learn about your upcoming adventures at our welcome reception and dinner tonight.</description>
  <overnight>K Bar S Lodge, Keystone, SD</overnight>
  <meals>Dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="2">
  <title>Mount Rushmore and a night at a western ranch</title>
  <description>You’ll see two of the world’s largest sculptures today, nestled in the Black Hills. Nothing quite compares with your visit to Mt. Rushmore National Monument, where you’ll see in person four famous presidential faces carved into rock – George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln and Theodore Roosevelt – and learn how 400 workers spent 14 years creating the dream of sculptor Gutzon Borglum. View the work-in-progress at Crazy Horse Memorial, one of the world’s largest mountain carvings, and continue on your journey through stunning canyons into Wyoming’s Bighorn Mountains for an overnight and a real western ranch experience at The Ranch at Ucross. The ranch offers lots of activities for family fun – take a horseback ride*; catch a big Brown or Rainbow in Piney Creek or in the ranch’s stocked trout pond; relax by the heated pool; pitch horseshoes; or hunt for frogs by the pond. A campfire in the evening caps a perfect day!</description>
  <overnight>The Ranch at Ucross, WY</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="3">
  <title>Visit Cody, &quot;Rodeo Capital of the World&quot;</title>
  <description>Today’s drive through Wyoming’s Bighorn Mountains includes some pretty amazing sights – watch for cowboys at work in the high altitude grasslands, a spectacular waterfall, all kinds of wildflowers, and deep canyons that make you see how this area was a real part of the “wild west.” Step back to the days of the Old West in historic Cody, founded by frontiersman Buffalo Bill Cody in 1896. Learn more about his quest to lure settlers to the western frontier at the Buffalo Bill Historical Center, home to the world’s largest collection of artifacts depicting the culture, history and art of the American West. Stunts will be performed at the rodeo tonight by steer wrestlers, buckin’ broncos, barrel riders and rodeo clowns – they put on a memorable show!</description>
  <overnight>Holiday Inn Cody at Buffalo Bill Village, Cody, WY</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="4">
  <title>Stay in the heart of Yellowstone National Park</title>
  <description>Spend the morning exploring Cody on your own before departing for Yellowstone National Park for a two-night stay. Your inside-the-park accommodations are just steps away from Old Faithful Geyser – which shoots its plume of steam skyward just about every hour! If you wish, take a geyser walk with a park ranger, or check out other ranger programs; have dinner at your leisure tonight, enjoying the natural treasures of Yellowstone after the day’s crowds depart.</description>
  <overnight>Old Faithful Inn or Old Faithful Snow Lodge, Yellowstone National Park, WY</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="5">
  <title>Explore America&apos;s oldest national park</title>
  <description>Go exploring with a local expert who offers special insights on Yellowstone’s “restless” geology as you see some of its most famous geologic wonders; the park boasts 10,000 hot springs and two-thirds of all the geysers in the world! Enjoy a picnic lunch; join experts who shed light on the wildlife of Yellowstone, the protected home of endangered species including gray wolves, lynx, whooping cranes, bald eagles and grizzly bears.</description>
  <overnight>Old Faithful Inn or Old Faithful Snow Lodge, Yellowstone National Park, WY</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="6">
  <title>Spend two nights in Grand Teton National Park</title>
  <description>Depart Yellowstone for Jackson, Wyoming, and Grand Teton National Park. As you approach the park, your heart will be captured by your first sight of the magnificent Grand Tetons jutting skyward. Explore the historic town of Jackson as you please; be sure to check out the giant arch made out of elk antlers! You’ll spend the next two nights inside the heart of the park at the incredible Jackson Lake Lodge, one of the most sought-after hotels in the great American West.</description>
  <overnight>Jackson Lake Lodge, Grand Teton National Park, WY</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="7">
  <title>Raft down the Snake River... and volunteer</title>
  <description>Explore postcard-perfect sights in Grand Teton National Park, including sparkling Jenny Lake, and get set for a rafting adventure* on the scenic Snake River; your guide will introduce you to the flora and fauna of this wildlife-rich ecosystem, helping you spot the animals that make their homes here – beaver, eagles, elk and even moose. You’ll have the unique opportunity on Cowboy Country to volunteer with park experts on a service project, made possible by Tauck’s long-standing relationship with America’s national parks – an experience that you and your family will long remember. Tauck received a special Presidential Award for this on-tour volunteer program in 2006. Mark the end of a wonderful journey with a farewell reception and dinner tonight.</description>
  <overnight>Jackson Lake Lodge, Grand Teton National Park, WY</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="8">
  <title>Journey Home</title>
  <description>Tour ends: Jackson. Fly home anytime; a transfer from Jackson Lake Lodge to Jackson Hole Airport is included. You should allow a minimum of two hours for flight check-in.</description>
  <overnight></overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast</meals>
</itineraryDay>
  </itineraryDetails>
  <highlights>
		
				Grand Teton Nat’l Park ~ Snake River Rafting ~ Yellowstone Nat’l Park ~ Historic Cody ~ Bighorn Mountains ~ Ranch at Ucross ~ Crazy Horse Memorial ~ Mt. Rushmore 
		
</highlights>
  <tauckValues>
    <value order="1">A taste of cowboy life at a Wyoming ranch  horseback riding, fishing or hunting frogs at the trout pond, evening campfire &amp; more</value><value order="2">Rootin tootin fun at the world-famous rodeo in Cody</value><value order="3">Lots of chances to watch Old Faithful on a two-night stay at a lodge right in the heart of Yellowstone  and a behind-the-scenes park tour with a local expert</value><value order="4">River rafting on the Snake River with a guide who helps spot eagles, beaver, elk and maybe even a moose</value><value order="5">Participation in Taucks Presidential Award-winning national park volunteer program</value><value order="6">17 meals (7 breakfasts, 4 lunches, 6 dinners)</value><value order="7">All gratuities to Tauck Director, local guides &amp; drivers; service charges, taxes, porterage and airport transfers</value>
  </tauckValues>  
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    <date>
    <day>5</day>
    <month>6</month>
    <year>2010</year>
    <singlesPrice>3433</singlesPrice>
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    <triplesPrice>2526</triplesPrice>
    <quadsPrice>2497</quadsPrice>
    
  </date>
  <date>
    <day>19</day>
    <month>6</month>
    <year>2010</year>
    <singlesPrice>3433</singlesPrice>
    <doublesPrice>2750</doublesPrice>
    <triplesPrice>2526</triplesPrice>
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  </date>
  <date>
    <day>29</day>
    <month>7</month>
    <year>2010</year>
    <singlesPrice>3433</singlesPrice>
    <doublesPrice>2750</doublesPrice>
    <triplesPrice>2526</triplesPrice>
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  </date>
  <date>
    <day>12</day>
    <month>8</month>
    <year>2010</year>
    <singlesPrice>3433</singlesPrice>
    <doublesPrice>2750</doublesPrice>
    <triplesPrice>2526</triplesPrice>
    <quadsPrice>2497</quadsPrice>
    
  </date>

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</tour><tour>
  <sourceId>YZ2010</sourceId>
  <title>Tanzania: A Grand Family Safari</title>
  <summary>
    <![CDATA[		Family FYI: Did you know that the Maasai people of Tanzania speak a language called Maa? Experience real-life excitement on this family Africa tour and safari, where you&apos;ll meet Maasai villagers and enjoy up-close encounters with Africa&apos;s Big Five on daily game drives.
]]>
  </summary>
  <description>
    <![CDATA[There&apos;s no more enriching family vacation than a real African safari – on Tauck Bridges’ family Africa tour! On morning and afternoon game drives, our experienced tracking guides will help your family spot Tanzania’s Big Five as you roam through national parks like Kilimanjaro, Lake Manyara and Serengeti from luxurious tented camps. Soar over the savanna in a hot air balloon at dawn... meet the Maasai and learn about their way of life... picnic in a 2-million-year-old crater... and visit a gorge where some of the oldest human fossils were found. Tauck Bridges&apos; family Africa tour is truly the family journey of a lifetime!
]]>
  </description>
  <link>http://family-travel.tauck.com/tours/africa-travel/africa-tour-yz-2010</link>
  <durationDays>11</durationDays>
  <durationDetails>11 days and 10 nights.</durationDetails>
  <tripType>ESCORTED_TOUR</tripType>
  <brand>Bridges</brand>
  <subbrand>Exotics</subbrand>
  <gradeRating>ALL_AGES</gradeRating>
  <comfortRating>COMFORTABLE_MIXED</comfortRating>
  <startingLocation>Arusha, Tanzania</startingLocation>
  <prices>
    <price currency="USD">5734</price>
    <priceDetails><![CDATA[All prices are per person in U.S. dollars. ]]></priceDetails>
  </prices>
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  <itinerary>
    <![CDATA[No zoo in the world can capture the exhilarating experience of an African safari. Stay in wilderness lodges and tented safari camps. Experience game drives in wildlife reserves with expert guides for up-close views of the amazing creatures who live in Tanzania’s magnificent wilderness. And meet tribal people who show you what life is like in the African bush. With Tauck Bridges in the driver’s seat, there are only two Swahili words you need to know: Hakuna Matata, meaning no worries! Group Size Limited To 24!

Keep your eyes peeled for the “Big Five” on game drives through Tarangire, Lake Manyara, and Serengeti national parks in private open-top safari vehicles – where everyone has a window seat. Soar high above the grasslands on a hot air balloon ride inside Serengeti National Park. Join in a Maasai tribal dance and visit a traditional boma for an authentic look at daily life. Explore ancient Ngorongoro Crater, seeing elephants, wildebeest, zebras and just about everything in between, and discover the secrets of farming on a 500-acre coffee farm.

Day 1. Arrive Arusha, Tanzania
Tour departs: Kilimanjaro International Airport. A transfer from the airport to Arumeru River Lodge is included upon arrival; your African lodge is located on the grounds of an old coffee farm.

Day 2. Kilimanjaro and Arusha National Parks
Your safari* begins with Mount Kilimanjaro – one of the world’s highest mountains and one of its highest volcanoes. While we won’t be climbing all the way to the top, you can walk up Kilimanjaro’s Merengu trail, then visit a woman of the Chagga tribe in her traditional home, where you’ll learn the art of making banana beverages. Or travel in our open-top safari vehicle to look for giraffes, baboons, flamingoes and buffalo on a full-day game drive in Arusha National Park. Everyone meets back at the lodge for a welcome dinner. Meals BLD

Day 3. The place where life began
Head for Tarangire National Park where you’ll see the Maasai people and the second largest concentration of big game in the world. According to Maasai legend, Tarangire is the place where life began. Embark on an afternoon game drive in the African savannah to see elephants cooling off in a watering hole and big cats lounging in the shade under baobab trees. After dinner at your tented camp you’ll meet members of the local Maasai tribe, who share some of their tribal customs – and teach their dances! Meals BLD

Day 4. Learning from the Maasai 
Start the day with a morning game drive in Tarangire, then learn what it takes to make colorful beadwork – plus how to throw a spear and shoot a bow and arrow – from members of a local Maasai tribe. This evening, gaze at vistas of Tarangire from “The Viewpoint,” dig into a barbecue dinner and take Swahili lessons around the campfire! Meals BLD

Day 5. A village school and a birder’s paradise
En route to Lake Manyara for wildlife viewing, meet and spend time with the students and teachers of a new primary school that Tauck helps support. Go on a game drive in Lake Manyara National Park, teeming with birds, and then travel to the 500-acre coffee farm that will be your home for two nights. Meals BLD

Day 6. Exploring Africa’s Garden of Eden
Hop aboard an open-top safari vehicle for game drives and a picnic lunch in two-million-year-old Ngorongoro Crater, a great place to spot Africa’s “Big Five‚” – buffalo, elephant, lion, leopard and the rare black rhinoceros. Return to your farmhouse lodge for dinner. Meals BLD

Day 7. Visit the “Cradle of Humankind”
You’ll pack your own box lunch before setting off for Serengeti National Park today. On the way, visit ancient Olduvai Gorge; 50 years ago, the fossilized remains of the earliest known human were found right here by Louis and Mary Leakey. Arrive at Mbuzi Mawe Tented Camp in the heart of the Serengeti plains. Meals BLD

Day 8. Soaring over the Serengeti... at dawn
Up and at ‘em for a hot air balloon ride* over the Serengeti at dawn – enjoy panoramic views of the grasslands, watching early morning rituals of the wildlife below. After lunch, spy zebras, hyenas, leopards, elephants and more on an afternoon game drive with a local guide who knows the best places to find the animals that make their homes here. Meals BLD

Day 9. Wildlife of the western Serengeti 
A drive to the western Serengeti showcases Africa untamed, offering your family a front-row seat for wildlife viewing as you travel to your hilltop lodge overlooking the Mbalageti River for lunch and time to relax. Look for wildebeest, prides of lions, fleet-footed cheetahs and herds of giraffes and zebras on a late afternoon game drive. Meals BLD

Day 10. More safari and sundowner fun
Morning and afternoon game drives fill your last day on safari with the Serengeti’s awesome landscapes and wildlife. A “sundowner” on a private deck under a magical African sunset, followed by a farewell dinner, offer a fitting finale to a memorable African safari. Meals BLD

Day 11. Journey home
Tour ends: Kilimanjaro International Airport. Fly back to Arusha. Visit a coffee plantation and have lunch at the Cultural Heritage Center in Arusha before arriving at Arumeru River Lodge, where a day room is reserved. A transfer is included from Arumeru River Lodge to Kilimanjaro International Airport this evening. Meals BLD

]]>
  </itinerary>
  <itineraryDetails>
    <itineraryDay day="1">
  <title>Arrive Arusha, Tanzania</title>
  <description>Tour departs: Kilimanjaro International Airport. A transfer from the airport to Arumeru River Lodge is included upon arrival; your African lodge is located on the grounds of an old coffee farm.</description>
  <overnight>Arumeru River Lodge, Arusha, Tanzania</overnight>
  <meals></meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="2">
  <title>Kilimanjaro and Arusha National Parks</title>
  <description>Your safari* begins with Mount Kilimanjaro – one of the world’s highest mountains and one of its highest volcanoes. While we won’t be climbing all the way to the top, you can walk up Kilimanjaro’s Merengu trail, then visit a woman of the Chagga tribe in her traditional home, where you’ll learn the art of making banana beverages. Or travel in our open-top safari vehicle to look for giraffes, baboons, flamingoes and buffalo on a full-day game drive in Arusha National Park. Everyone meets back at the lodge for a welcome dinner.</description>
  <overnight>Arumeru River Lodge, Arusha, Tanzania</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="3">
  <title>The place where life began</title>
  <description>Head for Tarangire National Park where you’ll see the Maasai people and the second largest concentration of big game in the world. According to Maasai legend, Tarangire is the place where life began. Embark on an afternoon game drive in the African savannah to see elephants cooling off in a watering hole and big cats lounging in the shade under baobab trees. After dinner at your tented camp you’ll meet members of the local Maasai tribe, who share some of their tribal customs – and teach their dances!</description>
  <overnight>Kikoti Tented Camp, Tarangire National Park, Tanzania</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="4">
  <title>Learning from the Maasai</title>
  <description>Start the day with a morning game drive in Tarangire, then learn what it takes to make colorful beadwork – plus how to throw a spear and shoot a bow and arrow – from members of a local Maasai tribe. This evening, gaze at vistas of Tarangire from “The Viewpoint,” dig into a barbecue dinner and take Swahili lessons around the campfire!</description>
  <overnight>Kikoti Tented Camp, Tarangire National Park, Tanzania</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="5">
  <title>A village school and a birder’s paradise</title>
  <description>En route to Lake Manyara for wildlife viewing, meet and spend time with the students and teachers of a new primary school that Tauck helps support. Go on a game drive in Lake Manyara National Park, teeming with birds, and then travel to the 500-acre coffee farm that will be your home for two nights.</description>
  <overnight>Ngorongoro Farm House, Ngorongoro Highlands, Karatu, Tanzania</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="6">
  <title>Exploring Africa’s Garden of Eden</title>
  <description>Hop aboard an open-top safari vehicle for game drives and a picnic lunch in two-million-year-old Ngorongoro Crater, a great place to spot Africa’s “Big Five‚” – buffalo, elephant, lion, leopard and the rare black rhinoceros. Return to your farmhouse lodge for dinner.</description>
  <overnight>Ngorongoro Farm House, Ngorongoro Highlands, Karatu, Tanzania</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="7">
  <title>Visit the “Cradle of Humankind”</title>
  <description>You’ll pack your own box lunch before setting off for Serengeti National Park today. On the way, visit ancient Olduvai Gorge; 50 years ago, the fossilized remains of the earliest known human were found right here by Louis and Mary Leakey. Arrive at Mbuzi Mawe Tented Camp in the heart of the Serengeti plains.</description>
  <overnight>Mbuzi Mawe Tented Camp, Serengeti National Park, Tanzania</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="8">
  <title>Soaring over the Serengeti... at dawn</title>
  <description>Up and at ‘em for a hot air balloon ride* over the Serengeti at dawn – enjoy panoramic views of the grasslands, watching early morning rituals of the wildlife below. After lunch, spy zebras, hyenas, leopards, elephants and more on an afternoon game drive with a local guide who knows the best places to find the animals that make their homes here.</description>
  <overnight>Mbuzi Mawe Tented Camp, Serengeti National Park, Tanzania</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="9">
  <title>Wildlife of the western Serengeti</title>
  <description>A drive to the western Serengeti showcases Africa untamed, offering your family a front-row seat for wildlife viewing as you travel to your hilltop lodge overlooking the Mbalageti River for lunch and time to relax. Look for wildebeest, prides of lions, fleet-footed cheetahs and herds of giraffes and zebras on a late afternoon game drive.</description>
  <overnight>Mbalageti Serengeti, Serengeti National Park, Tanzania</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="10">
  <title>More safari and sundowner fun</title>
  <description>Morning and afternoon game drives fill your last day on safari with the Serengeti’s awesome landscapes and wildlife. A “sundowner” on a private deck under a magical African sunset, followed by a farewell dinner, offer a fitting finale to a memorable African safari.</description>
  <overnight>Mbalageti Serengeti, Serengeti National Park, Tanzania</overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay><itineraryDay day="11">
  <title>Journey Home</title>
  <description>Tour ends: Kilimanjaro International Airport. Fly back to Arusha. Visit a coffee plantation and have lunch at the Cultural Heritage Center in Arusha before arriving at Arumeru River Lodge, where a day room is reserved. A transfer is included from Arumeru River Lodge to Kilimanjaro International Airport this evening.</description>
  <overnight></overnight>
  <meals>Breakfast, lunch, dinner</meals>
</itineraryDay>
  </itineraryDetails>
  <highlights>
		
				
						Mount Kilimanjaro ~ Arusha National Park ~ Tarangire National Park ~ Daily Game Drives ~ Lake Manyara Nat’l Park 
				
				
						Ngorongoro Crater  ~ Masai Tribal Village ~ Olduvai Gorge ~ Serengeti National Park 
		
</highlights>
  <tauckValues>
    <value order="1">Small group size limited to 24 for a more intimate safari experience with private game drives in open-top safari vehicles with a window seat for everyone</value><value order="2">Multiple-night stays in every destination for more time to view the incredible wildlife</value><value order="3">Hot air balloon ride over the Serengeti at dawn</value><value order="4">Hands-on lessons in Maasai beadwork and bow shooting; visits to a village primary school and the traditional home of a Chagga family</value><value order="5">Barbecue dinner and Maasai dancing; Swahili lessons around a campfire; picnic lunch in Ngorongoro Crater</value><value order="6">30 meals (10 breakfasts, 10 lunches, 10 dinners)</value><value order="7">All gratuities to Tauck Director, local guides &amp; drivers; service charges, taxes, porterage and airport transfers</value>
  </tauckValues>  
  <departureDates>
    <date>
    <day>27</day>
    <month>6</month>
    <year>2010</year>
    <singlesPrice>6540</singlesPrice>
    <doublesPrice>5990</doublesPrice>
    <triplesPrice>5959</triplesPrice>
    <quadsPrice>0</quadsPrice>
    
  </date>
  <date>
    <day>15</day>
    <month>8</month>
    <year>2010</year>
    <singlesPrice>6540</singlesPrice>
    <doublesPrice>5990</doublesPrice>
    <triplesPrice>5959</triplesPrice>
    <quadsPrice>0</quadsPrice>
    
  </date>
  <date>
    <day>22</day>
    <month>8</month>
    <year>2010</year>
    <singlesPrice>6540</singlesPrice>
    <doublesPrice>5990</doublesPrice>
    <triplesPrice>5959</triplesPrice>
    <quadsPrice>0</quadsPrice>
    
  </date>
  <date>
    <day>19</day>
    <month>12</month>
    <year>2010</year>
    <singlesPrice>6840</singlesPrice>
    <doublesPrice>6290</doublesPrice>
    <triplesPrice>6259</triplesPrice>
    <quadsPrice>0</quadsPrice>
    
  </date>

</departureDates>

</tour></tours>